EDB Extends Deadline for Student Grants

Families in Hong Kong now have until June 30 to apply for a one-off student grant of HKD 3,500. The Education Bureau (EDB) has extended the deadline for the 2019-20 grants for students at all kindergarten, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. Students at both local and international schools, including Direct Subsidy Scheme schools and English Schools Foundation schools, can apply for the grant.

A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said that in light of the campus closures and phases reopening of schools since the end of May, it was giving parents more time to submit applications. The EDB said:

"To date, we have received a total of about 867,000 applications, among which about 724,000 parents of eligible students have already received the grant. As for the remaining cases, they are mainly with incorrect or incomplete information (e.g. inaccurate bank account number). We are now actively following up with the schools and parents concerned."

The one-off grants are being awarded as part of HKD 19.1 billion relief measures announced by the Financial Secretary in August 2019 to alleviate parents' financial burden in defraying education expenses. It is estimated to benefit about 900,000 students in Hong Kong.

The non-means-tested student grant is offered to day students in kindergarten, primary, secondary and special schools offering both local or non-local curricula in Hong Kong; this includes public sector schools, DSS, ESF and international schools. Holders of student visas for entry into Hong Kong for studies, holders of a Form of Recognisance issued by the Immigration Department, and students attending evening schools are all ineligible.

Read more: Scholarships for international schools in Hong Kong.
　　
Applications can be made online here.