Without school places, we lose out

South China Morning Post:

English, the global language of business, should be well catered for in Hong Kong. Our city is an international financial centre and, to retain its competitive edge, has to attract skilled people from overseas. They will not come here unless their families' needs are catered for, and education in their everyday language is obviously a significant consideration. Surveys and anecdotal evidence suggest that due to a lack of suitable school places, we are losing out to regional rivals.

The government does not seem worried. It says there are vacancies at international schools and measures already taken will soon create another 5,000 places, 600 of them when school resumes in September. But the positive tone is at odds with signals from the business community, which has for some time been warning of a shortfall and its consequences. Surveys by the British and Canadian chambers of commerce back the claims, painting the bleakest of pictures.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at July 18, 2011 1:24 AM
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