The Public University Myth: Hong Kong’s Education System Under Scrutiny

The Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results have been released, but for tens of thousands of students, the dream of attending a public university in Hong Kong remains elusive. With only about 12,000 subsidized undergraduate places available at the city’s eight public universities, the numbers don’t add up.

The education system in Hong Kong is often touted as one of the best in the world, but what does this mean for students who fall short of university entry requirements? The government has introduced the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions to address the shortage of public university places. This scheme provides subsidized bachelor’s programs at self-financing tertiary institutions in 10 disciplines with strong manpower demand.

However, a closer look reveals that this is more of a band-aid solution than a comprehensive fix. The numbers are still woefully inadequate to meet demand, with around 3,425 first-year degree places available across 47 programs at eight self-financing institutions. The subsidy amounts range from HK$46,780 (US$5,970) to HK$81,450 per annum, depending on the program type and whether it is laboratory-based.

The underlying issue is the privatization of higher education in Hong Kong. With public university places scarce, students are being forced to turn to self-financing institutions that often prioritize profits over people. The notion that a degree from one of these institutions is less valuable or prestigious is misleading.

The government should take a long, hard look at its education policies and ask itself some tough questions. What does it mean when tens of thousands of students are turned away from public universities? Is this really what we want our education system to be about – sorting and culling rather than nurturing and developing?

To put this in perspective, the current situation is not new. The Hong Kong government has been struggling with overcrowding in public universities for decades. In the 1980s, the number of students sitting the A-level exam was already outstripping places available at local universities.

The answer lies in a combination of factors – a growing population, increasing demand for higher education, and an education system that seems more interested in producing high-achieving students than in actually educating them. This has led to a situation where students are being forced into second-rate institutions or denied access to higher education altogether.

As the DSE results are digested and students begin to make plans for their futures, one thing is clear: something needs to change. The status quo simply won’t do – not when we have a generation of young people being sacrificed on the altar of economic growth and competition. It’s time for a new narrative – one that puts people before profit and education above all else.