Thresholds for Justifying a Permanent New School and Lead Time to First Primary 1 Intake
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the criteria and lead time required for establishing a permanent new primary school. Ms Gho Sze Kee asked about the demand thresholds, projected student population requirements, and timeline leading to a school's first Primary 1 intake. Minister Desmond Lee stated that the Ministry of Education evaluates factors such as planned housing developments, nearby capacity, and accessibility holistically, rather than using a single fixed threshold. He explained that new schools require sustained long-term demand to support educational programmes and co-curricular activities, while short-term surges are managed by expanding existing schools. Finally, he noted that because planning, construction, and recruitment take time, new schools are typically announced several years prior to their opening.
Transcript
53 Ms Gho Sze Kee asked the Minister for Education (a) what demand and capacity thresholds the Ministry uses to determine when a new primary school is required in an area, including the projected size of the primary-school-age population and duration of demand needed to justify a permanent new school; and (b) what is the typical lead time from identifying the need to the school's first Primary 1 intake.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education (MOE) regularly reviews the demand and supply of primary school places at both the national and local levels. In doing so, we consider factors including the current and projected number of school-going children, planned housing developments, capacity in nearby schools and accessibility for residents.
As circumstances differ across areas, we do not just apply a single population threshold or fixed duration of demand. Instead, we assess each case holistically, including the local context and projected longer-term demand.
A new school requires substantial investment, and must have sufficient students over time to support a good range of educational programmes and co-curricular activities. We would therefore build one when we project that there will be a sustained demand that cannot be adequately met by nearby schools. Apart from building new schools, MOE may expand the capacity in existing schools where possible, to address short-term increase in demand in an area.
From identifying the need for a new school to its opening, time is required for planning and design, construction, staff recruitment and pre-opening preparations. We generally do our projections and announce new school several years in advance of the first Primary 1 intake, to give parents and residents clarity on future school provision.