Can foreign kids study in HK local schools?



ORIGINAL POST
Posted by jjhkexpat 14 yrs ago
Hi,


I've been seeking for advice from this site for a lots of things and find it very useful. I have 2 U.S. born kids - 5 and 2 years old respectively. Can I send them to the local school? If so, can they skip the interview as they are still in the U.S.?


It's heart broken for me not being able to see my kids around; however I am afraid they will not have a school to attend as the international schools I selected are all full and the waiting list is so long...


Please help me understand the local school system, the debenture, etc. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.


Please support our advertisers:
COMMENTS
jjhkexpat 14 yrs ago
Really grateful for your detailed advice, Cara. Currently I live in HK island so hope it does not have an impact on the application to schools in other region.

Please support our advertisers:
MommyTo3 14 yrs ago
In the long run it depends on how long you want to be here. On HK Island I would look at Woodlands in Aberdeen where they have a P1 program for 5 yo as well, so you could apply for other schools this year and hope for a spot for next year. For you 2 yo you shouldn't have any problem anyway in most international preschools as most start at age 2 and even a year later is not a problem. Look at Woodlands, Tutor Time and Sunshine.

Please support our advertisers:
ArtfulDodger 14 yrs ago
jjhkexpat, isn't it a shame that international students can't even get to international schools! Its too filled up with uppity local Hong Kongers.


I am so frustrated at this. I believe foreign passport holders (not dual HK passports) should be given preference over local Hong Kongers for placements in the international schools.


You should write to your consulate and make a complaint. And that should put some pressure on the international schools as many are supported by the country/consulate that they are designated.


Please support our advertisers:
aliendavid 14 yrs ago
^so... this is what being a minority feels like.

Please support our advertisers:
jrsy91 14 yrs ago
Actually, international students are given priority in admission to international schools. So if international students are not accepted, that's probably simply because the staff think the children are not suitable for the curriculum in their school.

Please support our advertisers:
ABSN 14 yrs ago
Hi, You can also try Lingnan Kindergarten on Stubbs road and St. Paul's Kindergarten in Causeway bay. Both take students of all nationalities. If deadline for next term is passed, write to the principal directly stating your situation. I have known people who have joined the school in mid-term. MY children went to both and if you can ,ive with local ways of teaching and education there will be no problem. If you are looking to provide an educational experience then you have to consider other options. From a point of view of academic excellence (for higher forms) St Paul's curriculum is more advanced. There are loads of public and DSS schools on HK island you can choose from but do not get discouraged by the often not too helpful front line/reception/admissions staff.

Please support our advertisers:
Nickp 14 yrs ago
try chiu sheung school on Hill Road in sai ying pun

Please support our advertisers:
donnaweb 14 yrs ago
How about Kiangsu and Chekiang Primary? They have both local and international stream. My kids go there and personally I love the school since it's not as commercial as others. There are students of different nationalities.

Please support our advertisers:
simonek 14 yrs ago
If you want to attend a local school, does your child have to be born here, or you posess permanent residency?


What would you recommend for someone who is moving to Hong Kong from China and would like their child to attend a local school? Would that be possivle? Looking at the fees of Yew Chung, ISF or Kiangsu and Chekiangare very high.


What do all the other families do who move to Hong Kong from China?


Thank you so much for your advise


Please support our advertisers:
evildeeds 14 yrs ago
No and no, all you have to have is a valid visa and HKID which makes you a resident.

Please support our advertisers:
evoo 14 yrs ago
Also try Rosaryhill School, they are trilingual and starting spanish as a formal subject from sep 2012.


They focuses on wholesome education, play to learn approach.


Please google Rosaryhill School something like RHS, the kindergarten and primary sections are english schools.

Please support our advertisers:
Loyd Grossman is Miss Venezuela 14 yrs ago
I am putting my kids through local schools (I'm English and my wife is HK Chinese). The 2-year old will have no problem but it would be best for the 5-year old to get over here as soon as possible otherwise he/she will be behind with Chinese character learning. The great thing about local schools is that your kids will be at least bi-lingual and most likely tri-lingual without having to even study and their job opportunities later will be huge - assuming China doesn't go belly up. Please understand, though, that both you and your kids have to toe the line. The schools are very disciplined and homework needs not only to be done on time but done neatly - and the homework will start around 5 years old. My kids went to Kiangsu and Chekiang which teaches through the medium of Mandarin. Getting in there now is quite hard but any local school around Mid-levels or HK Island should be fine. If you go down this route, you really have to nail your colours to the mast and follow their system - you can't be half in and half out. It will be a lot simpler if you get them over here as soon as possible so they can get a Hong Kong ID card (they can get one if you are working or settled here legally). Once they have one of these, they are in the system (it doesn't need to be a permanent ID card). Feel free to PM me if you need more info.

Please support our advertisers:
Toastie 14 yrs ago
Loyd Grossman - I am looking for a school to put my 2 year old in. She currently goes to Sunshine HOuse (Chi Fu) and loves it. I am very happy with her there. But I do want to immerse her into a local school - nursery for the language preferably Mandarin whilst she is young and open to different languages. Both my husband and I are english only so want to make the most of the opportunity since we will be in HK for another 5+ years.


I would greatly appreciate any assistance with good schools on HK Island - western side since we live in Pokfulam.

Please support our advertisers:
robkemp 14 yrs ago
The only Mandarin-medium local school is Kiangsu and Chekiang Primary school in North Point. Quite hard to get in now but you can always try. Otherwise, a Cantonese medium school will be okay. If they speak Cantonese, they can pick up on the Mandarin later. Also, they'll be able to function like natives in HK. This route is much easier. Just put your kids in your nearest local HK school - should be fine in that area (not sure if you are Catholic but they have a lot of decent schools and, if you, they usually try their best to accept you though you can still go if you are not). They'll be fluent in a matter of months and be able to translate for you. You may also have fewer discipline problems as they are quite strict.

Please support our advertisers:
Toastie 14 yrs ago
Thanks for that Robkemp. we are Catholic so that should help. It's just finding a good one in the Pokfulam area. Any suggestions? I heard St Stephen's is very good.

Please support our advertisers:
Kanice 13 yrs ago
My son is studying at Lingnan Primary School, his co class teacher is a westerner, I think he is from UK. Before, my son was studying in an International School in Kowloon Shek Kep Mei, but I found the school was not good that's why I moved him to Lingnan which recommend by my German friend, his children are now learning very happy and speak/write very good English and Chinese there.


My son joined Lingnan Primary School half year already, I found their teachers are nice and I found their children are good also. I feel Lingnan is a little bit International School alike as they have a lot of westerner children and teachers, their curriculum is also good, their PE lesson also taught by Engish westerner teacher, they play volley ball, American football, etc... PS, their parents, Priincipal also nice, I appreciate that I can meet some close friend at this school. Most of their children graduates go to ST Stephen's, Queen's College, Mary mount, ST Paul Convent, ST Stephen's girls or other International Schools.

Please support our advertisers:
nuchanel 13 yrs ago
I have two kids, one in ESF system and one locally at Rosaryhill School in Stubbs Road. When I had my son in the ESF system and tried to put my other child into ESF, there were no vacancies and they are all full all the time. Also the fees kept rising which was unfair to us parents. I have given my other child a Chinese education and the school teaches English, Cantonese, Mandarin and now this year, Spanish. My child is happy to learn so many languages and she knows it will be beneficial to her. I can't read or write Chinese but my child helps me translate alot.


Good luck in your search.

Please support our advertisers:
martialartslady 12 yrs ago
I am HK Chinese and my husband is English. However, after discussion, we decided to send our daughter through the very traditional stream. My first choice is Dominic Savio in Shaukeiwan. She is having an interview with them next month.


Home and recreation wise, I want her to have fun but I also want her to learn things the hard way, in school in order to prepare her for Primary School.

Please support our advertisers:

< Back to main category



Login now
Ad