Kindergartens in Hong Kong are intending to shut down by the concluded school year's end.
In [City Name], a significant rise in kindergarten closures for the 2024-25 school year has been observed, with 23 local kindergartens announcing their intention to close by the end of August 2024. This represents a 28% year-on-year increase compared to the previous academic year.
The primary cause of this surge in closures is attributed to the record-low birth rate in 2022, resulting in fewer children entering kindergarten. With fewer children, there is reduced demand for kindergarten places, leading to financial and operational challenges for these institutions, ultimately leading to closures.
According to data, the total number of kindergartens that have closed since the 2022-23 school year, if all 23 preschools from the 2024-25 school year follow through, will be 107. This includes 81 closures from the 2023-24 to 2024-25 period and the previously reported 26 closures from 2022-23.
The trend of declining enrollment linked to demographic trends is not unique to [City Name]. In the U.S., for instance, declining birth rates since the pandemic have contributed to reduced public school enrollment at the preschool and kindergarten levels, alongside rising chronic absenteeism and parental dissatisfaction with public schools.
The city has not provided information on the impact of the kindergarten closures on the overall education system or announced any measures to address the decreased birth rate or the anticipated closure of kindergartens. However, the sector has warned that more closures may follow if the situation does not improve.
In the first 10 months of the 2024-25 school year, 23 preschools have indicated they will cease operations. Of these, 17 were non-subsidised local kindergartens, 8 were non-local institutions, and 4 were subsidised local preschools.
While there have been small upticks in 2023 and 2024, the number of registered births in 2024 is still lower than previous years. Children born in 2022 are expected to make up most of the next batch of first-year kindergarteners.
As of June 2023, an additional 18 kindergartens had indicated they would close in the 2023-24 school year, bringing the total to 29 by the end of that school year. The number of non-local institutions that have closed since 2022-23, if all 23 preschools from the 2024-25 school year follow through, will be 8.
The city has not specified the reasons for the decreased birth rate in 2022 and 2024. The high number of closures has been linked to the record-low birth rate in 2022. The sector continues to monitor the situation closely and anticipates potential further impacts on the education system.
The declining birth rate in 2022 has led to a significant decrease in kindergarten enrollment, causing a surge in closures of local kindergartens. This trend highlights the importance of education-and-self-development initiatives to encourage larger families and maintain the availability of education opportunities.
The projected closure of 23 local kindergartens for the 2024-25 school year is a warning sign, indicating the need for proactive measures to address the issue of decreased enrollment and the financial struggles faced by these institutions.
