SKH Tseung Kwan O Kei Tak Primary School is among 15 schools barred from offering primary one classes after failing to meet the minimum enrolment threshold of 16 pupils.
Under a development plan approved by the Education Bureau, it will merge with SKH Kei Tak Primary School in Wong Tai Sin, with the permanent closure of its campus set for the 2029/30 academic year.
As a result, current primary two and three students will eventually have to transfer to another school or relocate to the Wong Tai Sin campus.
Principal of the SKH Tseung Kwan O Kei Tak Primary School, Kwong Ka-man, said it will provide maximum support to affected families over the next three years, noting that primary two and three pupils currently account for just over 10 of the school’s total enrolment of 121.
Although 10 other students have left after the merger was announced, Kwong stressed that the departure rate is similar to those of past years.
She also said six new students joined over the summer, which she believes shows that parents retain confidence in the school.
To provide a diverse learning experience for the students, she said, the school will offer free athletics, cycling and English classes by native-speaking teachers, alongside subsidised swimming classes.
And to help ensure a smooth transition, Kwong said the school will gradually align its curriculum and textbooks with those used at the Wong Tai Sin campus.
The school, she stressed, is also striving to secure school bus and uniform subsidies for students who commit to moving to the Wong Tai Sin campus.
Some parents, however, said they intend to stay put.
Bel, whose daughter is now in primary two, said her child was determined not to change schools, citing the cross-district commute.
She pointed out that a switch to the Wong Tai Sin campus would add 30 minutes to the travel time.
Another parent, Cynthia, has two children in primary four and six and plans to have them graduate at the school. Her family returned from Australia about a year and a half ago.
“It’s the vision of the school aligned with our vision. We believe that learning is not just in the classroom and this school actually provides the children and students a lot of opportunities,” she said.
“Of course we feel sad but we still have a few years here and we actually feel very confident that my children or, I believe, other parents think the same: our children will gain the best in this school. That’s why we decided to stay here.”