The school made the decision following nearly a year of debate over whether to change its status from a government-funded school to one that charges fees and has greater autonomy.
The Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) – introduced in 1991 – gives schools more freedom in management, use of resources and curriculum. School boards can admit their own pupils and collect fees in addition to government assistance.
WYHK principal, So Ying Lun, said the DSS Scheme can enhance diversity in the Hong Kong Education Sector and provide more choices for parents.
“With greater flexibility in student admission, we can increase the number of places available to less well-off families so that there is a better mix of students from different socioeconomic backgrounds,” he told The Educator Asia.
“It will also help reduce excessive learning diversity in our student intakes. Moreover, as the Scheme allows us to charge a modest level of school fees (our plan is to charge about HK$2,000 per month), we shall have more resources to enhance the quality of our learning and teaching for our students.”
In March last year, the school’s board said that changing times and unique challenges had prompted it to consider the change.
The move has been met with consternation from some from inside and outside the school and alumni community, who say the decision to adopt the scheme goes against the school’s vision of catering to rich and poor.
However, Wah Yan College says the board has laid down some parameters on the possible transition to DSS, including keeping fees at HK$20,000 or less per year to avoid being seen as a school “exclusively for the rich and privileged”.
The principal of Wah Yan College has been contacted for comment.
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