Hong Kong approves tuition fee hikes for 134 private, DSS and international schools
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Education Bureau announced Tuesday that it had approved tuition fee increases for private schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools and international schools, with average hikes ranging from 4 to 4.75 percent for the 2026-27 academic year. The bureau received 185 applications by August 31, comprising 49 DSS schools, 74 private schools and 62 international schools. One international school application remains under processing. The fee hikes will add to the financial burden on parents, with the bureau also approving 492 kindergartens offering full-day or extended full-day programmes to increase fees.
Key Points
- Average tuition fee increases approved: DSS schools at 4.07 percent, private schools at 4.75 percent, and international schools at 4 percent
- 185 schools applied by August 31 for the 2026-27 academic year, including 49 DSS, 74 private and 62 international schools
- One international school application remains pending; most increases were below 10 percent
- DSS schools must allocate at least 10 percent of tuition revenue for scholarships and fee remissions
- 492 kindergartens offering full-day or extended full-day programmes were approved to raise fees; median parent contribution is HK$1,130 per installment
- Specific school increases include Harrow Hong Kong at 3.8 percent, Kibbutz School at 4.5 percent, Chinese International School primary at 5 percent, and St. Stephen's Girls' College-affiliated school raising Form One fees to HK$87,800
Why It Matters
The cumulative effect of fee increases across multiple school tiers means families face higher education costs at every level, from kindergarten through secondary school. The requirement for DSS schools to maintain scholarship funds helps mitigate the impact on lower-income families, but the broadly similar percentage increases across all school types suggest a systemic rise in private education expenses across Hong Kong .
The cumulative effect of fee increases across multiple school tiers means families face higher education costs at every level, from kindergarten through secondary school. The requirement for DSS schools to maintain scholarship funds helps mitigate the impact on lower-income families, but the broadly similar percentage increases across all school types suggest a systemic rise in private education expenses across Hong Kong .