Cost of Hong Kong kindergartens soar with some parents forced to pay 29 per cent more than last year

Citing higher expenses, over 80pc of the city's kindergartens bumped up their fees this year but critics say the increases lack transparency

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Children learn proper ways of handwashing in a kindergarten. Photo: May Tse

Published: 12:00am, 8 Sep 2015Updated: 9:05am, 8 Sep 2015

Local parents are paying higher kindergarten fees, some as much as 29 per cent more than last school year, according to the latest information on approved fee rise applications.

The cost of sending a child to Sham Shui Po's Cheung Sha Wan Kai Fong Welfare Association Lam Tam Yin Wah Kindergarten shot up by 29 per cent to HK$44,400 from HK$34,428 last year, the learned. Tin Shui Wai's Academy Kindergarten also significantly raised its fees for its whole-day session, up 23 per cent to HK$40,000 from HK$32,500. Both schools declined to comment on the increases.

According to an Education Bureau spokesman, out of 972 registered kindergartens in the city, 799 were given approval to increase fees in the 2015-16 school year. Of the rest, 117 kindergartens did not adjust their fees, eight reduced them, and 32 applications were still being processed. The remaining 16 kindergartens are new.

Across all schools, the average tuition increase was 8.3 per cent, comparable to last year.

Salary adjustments of staff, improving teacher-to-pupil ratios, cumulative losses, and improving school facilities were the main factors for consideration when approving tuition fee changes, the spokesman said.

The exterior of Kellett School's campus in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Fees at certain international kindergartens also climbed. The cost of sending a child to Kellett School's preparatory year increased by 10 per cent from HK$128,970 last year to HK$143,300 this year. Canadian International School fees increased by eight per cent, from HK$87,150 to HK$94,120.