The Education Bureau (EDB) is offering one-off grants of HKD 3,500 for students at 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 a grant for the 2019-20 academic year.
An EDB spokesman said, "As part of the HKD 19.1 billion relief measures announced by the Financial Secretary in August 2019, a one-off student grant of $3,500 for secondary day school, primary school and kindergarten students will be provided in the 2019/20 school year to alleviate parents' financial burden in defraying education expenses.
“The provision was approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on December 6, 2019. 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 private 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.
Application forms can be collected from the EDB’s Regional Education Offices from today (January 9).
The EDB says: “After parents have duly completed the application forms, schools have to verify the student status and submit them to the EDB on or before February 14. Applicants are not required to provide other documents at this stage.
“We expect to start disbursing the subsidy in about six weeks after receiving the applications."