Policy Address Unveils School Merger Plan to Streamline Education Resources
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The 2026 Policy Address has unveiled the Convergence Upgrade Plan, a government initiative to encourage publicly-funded primary and secondary schools to merge and upgrade. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the scheme during his Policy Address speech, positioning it as a strategic response to align with national education directives while addressing local demographic shifts.
Key Points
- The Convergence Upgrade Plan will launch in the 2026/27 academic year, offering incentives for aided and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) school mergers
- Schools may retain two campuses post-merger, with additional resources, premises support, and transition assistance provided
- Cross-subsidy model mergers are permitted, allowing an aided school to merge with a DSS school to form a new DSS institution
- Details will be announced within this school year; the scheme excludes private schools and sets minimum scale requirements
- The Education Bureau will continue existing school closure arrangements regardless of the new plan
- Teachers must hold a practising certificate under revised Education Ordinance; the bureau will enhance teacher training frameworks
- Monthly $1,000 additional training allowance for registered apprentices will be extended for two years
Why It Matters
The plan represents a significant policy shift from reactive school closures to proactive school consolidation, offering schools greater autonomy in shaping their futures while responding to Hong Kong's shrinking student population. With no specific merger targets set, the scheme's success will depend on whether the incentives prove compelling enough to encourage voluntary participation among school operators .