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The English Schools Foundation (Chinese: 英基學校協會, abbreviated: ESF or 英基) is a non-profit organisation that runs 20 educational institutions, most of them are international schools, which are all located in Hong Kong. It is the largest international educational foundation in Asia^{[citation needed]} and was founded in 1967 as a direct result of an ordinance that started the foundation to provide a "modern liberal education" for expatriates in Hong Kong. Today, the majority of students are local Hongkongers although there is a sizable expatriate community, with students coming from over 50 different nationalities. At the same time, more than 70% of their students have parents who are permanent residents of Hong Kong. Its schools have traditionally provided a curriculum based on the English system, but the organisation is undergoing a transition to a more international curriculum from the International Baccalaureate Organization, starting with a switch for the Year 12 and 13 programme from the British GCE A-Levels to the International Baccalaureate Diploma from September 2007. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links English_Schools_Foundation_Logo. ... The Fellowing are English Schools Foundation schools in Hong Kong: // Primary Schools Bauhinia School [1] Beacon Hill School [2] Bradbury School [3] Glenealy School [4] Kennedy School (ESF) [5] Kowloon Junior School Perth Street [6] and Rose Street [7] Peak School [8] Quarry Bay School [9] Sha Tin Junior School... For the tax agency in Ireland of the same name, see Revenue Commissioners. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... International schools are private schools that cater mainly to children who are not nationals of the host country, often the children of the staff of international businesses, international organizations, embassies, missions, or missionary programs. ... A charitable foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the sole source of funding for their own activities. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code. ... For the band, see Expatriate (band). ... Hongkongers are the residents of Hong Kong, no matter they are Chinese citizens or not. ... The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is an international profit educational foundation, founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland. ... The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, usually taken by students during the optional final two years of secondary school (Years 12 & 13*, commonly called the Sixth Form except for Scotland), or at a separate sixth form... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into International Baccalaureate Organization. ...

The foundation receives an ongoing subsidy (called the "subvention") from the Hong Kong Government as well as charging a substantial tuition fee to parents. In the 2007-2008 academic year, these fees stand at HK$54,300 per annum for primary school students and HK$85,000 per annum for secondary school students. On July 1, 1997, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial control. ... ISO 4217 Code HKD User(s) Hong Kong Inflation 2. ... Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. ... High School also refers to the highest form of classical riding, High School Dressage. ...

Although all of the ESF schools are comprehensive and non-selective, students in the foundation have traditionally done well academically, with many secondary school of more than 95% of their graduates going to leading universities around the world.

The schools have progressively improved their facilities, especially in ICT with the help of donations from Parent Teacher Associations. For information technology in general, see Information technology. ... A Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is a voluntary organization bringing together parents and teachers of pupils in a particular school or school district, usually for fund-raising, building parental involvement at school and other activities relating to the welfare of the school, rather than the progress of individual pupils. ...

Government subsidy debate

Unlike most other international schools in Hong Kong, schools run by the ESF receive an ongoing subsidy (called a 'subvention') from the Hong Kong Government. The reason for this is historical and lies in the foundation's statutory basis. Until recently, it was generally accepted that this subsidy was fair and that the foundation had a reason to be subsidised. On July 1, 1997, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial control. ...

There has been some controversy regarding subsidies to the foundation. The fiscal deficit suffered by the Hong Kong Government following the Asian Financial Crisis forced the government to cut costs. There were also allegations that the foundation has misused funds on entertainment and over-extravagant recruitment procedures. A report criticising the ESF's use of funds was published by the Hong Kong Government in November 2004, resulting in a continuing debate about whether the subsidy should be cut or even suspended. The subvention was cut for several years in line with a general reduction in government expenditure and then frozen. On July 1, 1997, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial control. ... The Asian financial crisis was a financial crisis that started in July 1997 in Thailand and affected currencies, stock markets, and other asset prices in several Asian countries, many considered East Asian Tigers. ... On July 1, 1997, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial control. ...

Those who argue for the subsidy to be reduced further or stopped put forward several arguments:

1. Other international schools are not subsidised, so it is not fair that the ESF should be subsidised.
2. The subvention allows the ESF to charge lower fees and pay higher salaries to teachers than other international schools. This creates unfair competition.
3. Most students in ESF schools could attend other schools and so do not need a government subsidy.
4. The ESF has been criticized for its governance and extravagance, which has caused many to question whether the public's money is being used correctly.

Those in favour of keeping the subsidy argue that:

1. Students of ESF schools should be allowed the same subsidy that is provided to students of schools in "local" schools. Without the subsidy, some parents could not afford the higher fees and their children would be forced to leave the ESF system.
2. English is an official language of the HKSAR and there is only limited provision for English language education outside the ESF.
3. The style of education is different from what is available in "local" schools. Although the government also has the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) to provide funding to schools which operate more independently than typical local schools, most DSS schools were formerly top-tier local schools and continue to offer the local curriculum.

The ESF has recently addressed concerns about governance by putting forward a new Ordinance that will change the way the organization operates. The Direct Subsidy Scheme is a system instituted by the Hong Kong Education and Manpower Bureau (a division of the Hong Kong government) as a means to enhance the quality of private schools in Hong Kong at the kindergarten, primary, and secondary levels. ... A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code. ...

It is generally accepted that the government will not allow the ESF to expand any further under the existing subsidy arrangements. Future ESF schools will have to be under the "Private Independent School" scheme with no "subvention". One (Renaissance College) opened in Ma On Shan in August 2006 and Discovery College in Discovery Bay, which opened in August 2007. Renaissance College Hong Kong (Chinese: 啓新書院 Abbreviated: RCHK) is a newly opened school in Ma On Shan, Hong Kong. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Discovery College (Chinese:智新書院) is the second private independent school operated by the ESF in Hong Kong. ... For other places with the same name, see Discovery Bay (disambiguation). ...

Ordinance

ESF was established by government ordinance in 1967. There have been no amendments to the ordinance since that time. Shortcomings in the governance of the organisation were highlighted by the Legislative Council Public Accounts Committee in January 2005.

The ESF carried out an extensive consultation process to produce an Amended Ordinance and Regulation, which provide for a number of changes to the governance and management of ESF. Some of these are in response to the shortcomings identified by the Public Accounts Committee. The most substantial changes are to the structure and composition of ESF's governing body and committees, including the creation of a new Board of Governors to replace the Foundation.

The new Ordinance was approved by Legco in April 2008 and came into effect shortly afterwards.

See also

• Education in Hong Kong

Education in Hong Kong has a similar system to that of the United Kingdom, in particular the English education system of Hong Kong was modernized by the British in 1861. ...

Notes and References

The English Schools Foundation has a subsidiary known as the ESF Educational Services Limited (ESFESL) which operates the kindergartens and Private Independent Schools. [2]

List of schools run by the foundation

Main article: List of English Schools Foundation schools

The Fellowing are English Schools Foundation schools in Hong Kong: // Primary Schools Bauhinia School [1] Beacon Hill School [2] Bradbury School [3] Glenealy School [4] Kennedy School (ESF) [5] Kowloon Junior School Perth Street [6] and Rose Street [7] Peak School [8] Quarry Bay School [9] Sha Tin Junior School...

External links

• English Schools Foundation