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going to hong kong

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 3:54 am
by thehungergames
Hi all.

Not sure whether this is the right section to be putting this. However, this seems like the most appropriate.

Next year, I might be going to Hong Kong to take up a new post at work, so I was thinking of moving the entire family to Hong Kong.

Wondering if anyone here is familiar with the Hong Hong secondary school system? I understand that the students are banded into Band 1, 2, and 3, and they can only go to a school within their own respective bands, or the bands lower, but not a school with a better band rating. Ie, a student posted to Band 1 can choose to go to a Band 2 or 3 school, but a student in Band 2 cannot go to a Band 1 school.

Does anyone know if there is an equivalent to the Express, NA, NT system in Singapore? My daughters are in the Express stream, does it mean that they can try for the Band 1 schools?

Also, one of them is completing Sec 1 this year, (going Sec 2 next year), while the other is going to Sec 3 next year. The school year in Hong Kong starts in September, so this means that they will have to wait until September 2014 to be admitted. However since by then they would have done Sec 2 and Sec 3 respectively for 9 months in Singapore, will they be allowed to begin school in Sec 3 and Sec 4 respectively? Or will they have to repeat Secondary 2 and 3 because they haven't done their End of Year examinations in Singapore?

Lastly, can anyone recommend any schools in Hong Kong? I prefer government, not private because the fees are to high.

I hope that some of the forummers here can help.

Re: going to hong kong

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 11:16 am
by jetsetter
Why don't you contact Singapore Int'l School in HK for advice, even though you might not want them to study in an int'l sch there.

http://www.singapore.edu.hk/school-info ... admissions

Or check with HK Ed Bureau directly on matters pertaining to bridging?

http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/contact-us/pla ... pport.html

I'm not sure whether your kids will be considered Newly Arrived Children (NAC) which is a common term used on mainlanders, or Non-Chinese speaking Children (NCC), which we are not quite either. There could be a placement test of sorts to determine if your girls are in Band 1, 2 or 3. Gotta ask their Ed Bureau. And will there be Cantonese/Chinese proficiency test too?

Since they hv abolished HKCEE, your girls will probably join their 6-yr Through Train programme and take their HKDSE exams in Sec 6. Not sure academic projects that are accounted for in the final DSE grades would hv kickstarted in Sec 4.

And hv u researched the 'marketability' of HKDSE which is an equivalent of IB they claim? Did you check NUS/NTU/SMU websites if their bar set for HKDSE applicants is high?

http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/DocLibrary/Medi ... 07_eng.pdf

Choice of sec schs would depend on where your apartment is located.

http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/pri ... -list.html

You probably need to shortlist those whose medium of instruction is English, which will be under the ESF group (which comprises 'elite' int'l schs, i.e. more expensive)? Local schs use Putonghua as medium of instruction if I'm not wrong, but good to double check.

http://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu ... 15_Eng.pdf

Alternatively,
Why not let your DD1 take her Sec 4 O Levels and Singapore? Since both are in Sec schs, they can take care of themselves here right? Or entrust them with a relative or let your wife remain in Singapore to be their guardian?

More critically,
How long is your posting? 3 years? If it's 3 years, DD2 might not have completed HKDSE right (though DD1 might be able to sit for it just in time before you return to Singapore)?

DD2 will return with what sort of HK qualifications (which she will hv NONE in the midst of a 6-yr Through Train scheme??) that will enable her to bridge to Singapore's JC or poly? Hv you asked yourself this question?

Lastly,
May I suggest you join GeoExpat Hong Kong forum. You probably can get more updated and accurate advice there.

http://hongkong.geoexpat.com



cheers:)

Re: going to hong kong

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 11:35 am
by resgmom
Agree that HK geoexpert forum (Education) would be a much better place to do your research. It is not easy to navigate the myriad of educational options in HK.

http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/71/

Personally I think the best bet would be to attend the Singapore international school in HK but I heard the school is highly popular, though priority should be given to Singaporean. The principals (and teachers as well?) are posted directly from MOE. Current principal Mr Pek Wee Haur was previously principal of Chongfu school.

Re: going to hong kong

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 11:54 pm
by jetsetter
thehungergames wrote:Lastly, can anyone recommend any schools in Hong Kong? I prefer government, not private because the fees are to high.

I hope that some of the forummers here can help.
hey, i remember you. u still around? hv u gotten your answers from HK geoexpats?

Anyway, my HK friend sent this to me. It's the top 50 pre-sch, pr sch and sec sch billboards for your reference. It's not released not endorsed by their MOE.

http://www.hkpep.com/2013/zx50.php#.UouGsW_9qfR