Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Hong Kong, funding for primary and secondary education is provided by the government. Government schools are operated directly by the government, while aided schools and caput schools are fully subsidised but managed by religious bodies or charitable organisations through school management committees. Funding covers teacher salaries, and serves purposes related to teaching and learning, operation and development of the schools.
Government schools receive funding directly, while aided schools and caput schools retain some management autonomy despite full subsidies. Semi-private schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme receive partial government funding and raise additional resources independently. This centralised funding model supports equitable access and consistent quality standards across public basic education, with local management exercised through school committees in aided schools.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
There is no established method for allocating public education funds to sub-national governments.
2. Education resources to schools
Government schools receive funding directly from the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and aided schools in Hong Kong are fully subsidised by the government, while private schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) receive the government subsidy on top of collecting school fees from parents.
Learning Support Grant (LSG)
The LSG, provided under Education Bureau Circular No. 6/2019 and Circular No. 7/2019, is one of the major additional resources to public sector ordinary schools for supporting students with special educational needs (SEN) and academically low achievers (ALAs) (applicable to primary schools). Allocation is based on the number of eligible students and the tier of support they require. Moreover, apart from having LSG provision, schools will have additional one to three regular teaching post(s) converted/provided on account of LSG reaching the specific threshold(s).
Funding Support for Schools Admitting Non-Chinese Speaking Students
Additional funding is provided for all publicly-funded primary and secondary schools offering the local curriculum according to the number of non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students admitted, with a view to enhancing the support for NCS students in learning Chinese as well as creating an inclusive learning environment in schools. Details of the funding are set out in EDB Circular No. 8/2014 and Circular No. 8/2020. Besides, additional resources are also provided for those schools admitting NCS students with SEN so as to strengthen the emotional, communication and social support for the students concerned.
School-Based Support Scheme (SBSS) Grant
Public sector and DSS schools with intake of children newly arrived from Mainland China, non-Chinese speaking children newly joining the local education system, and returnee children can apply for the SBSS Grant to flexibly provide support services for meeting the learning and adaptation needs of these children, as outlined in Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 164/2025.
Life-wide Learning Grant and Sister School Grant
As outlined in Education Bureau Circular No. 9/2025, starting from the 2025/26 school year, the EDB consolidated some existing grants and subsidy into the Life-wide Learning and Sister School Grant (LWLSSG), with a view to improving flexibility, utilisation and synergy. Schools would be able to deploy the LWLSSG more flexibly to organise student learning activities outside the classroom (including Mainland educational exchange activities, local and non-local study tours, and outdoor education camps) and arrange sister school exchange activities to enrich students’ learning experiences, help them develop lifelong learning capabilities and achieve the aim of whole-person development.
School-based After-school Learning and Support Programmes (SALSP)
The SALSP provides funding to public sector schools and schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) to subsidise needy students to participate in after-school learning activities. The programme is detailed in EDB Circular Memorandum No. 64/2025.
Quality Education Fund (QEF)
Formally established in 1998, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) finances non-profit initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education within the ambit of school education, i.e. kindergarten, primary, secondary and special education. Funded projects include, but not limited to, promoting effective learning, promoting all-round education, implementing school-based management, educational research, and the application of information technology. Details of the funding programmes are provided in Circular Memorandum No. 111/2025.
3. Education resources to students and families
One-Off Student Grant
In August 2019, the Financial Secretary introduced a one-off student grant of HKD 2,500 (USD 320) for all kindergarten, primary, and secondary day-school students. From the 2020/21 school year, this grant was regularised. All students aged over two years and eight months studying in secondary day-schools, primary schools, special schools, and kindergartens are eligible, including those in private schools. The programme is scheduled to be phased out and fully abolished by the end of the 2025/26 school year.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) administers several means-tested financial assistance schemes to support primary and secondary students.
School Textbook Assistance Scheme
This scheme provides assistance to needy students to cover the cost of essential textbooks and other school-related expenses. The full grant rates for the 2025/26 school year range from HKD 3,634 to HKD 6,338 (depending on the class level of the student).
Student Travel Subsidy Scheme
This scheme subsidises public transportation costs for needy students who live more than ten minutes’ walking distance from school. The average subsidy amount for primary and secondary students is HKD 2,830 in the 2024/25 school year.
Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges
This scheme provides subsidy to needy families to meet the internet access charges for e-learning at home for their children. The full subsidy rate is HKD 1,700 per household in the 2025/26 school year.
Examination Fee Remission Scheme
This scheme provides assistance to needy students to attend the public examinations administered by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. The average subsidy amount is HKD 2,875 per student in the 2024/25 school year.
The Social Welfare Department administers the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme in providing financial assistance to bring the income of needy individuals and families up to a prescribed level to meet their basic needs.
School Grants under the CSSA Scheme
Under the CSSA Scheme, school grants are payable to eligible children receiving primary and secondary education to meet their educational expenses, such as fares to and from school, meals to take lunch away from home, books, school uniforms and other school-related expenses.
5. School meal programmes
Free Lunch at Schools
Since the 2014/15 school year, the provision of free school lunches has been incorporated into the government’s regular assistance programmes. Free lunches are provided to primary students from low-income families. Funding is allocated to participating schools based on the number of eligible Primary 1–6 students. Targeted students are those who receive a full grant under the Student Financial Assistance Schemes and attend whole-day government-aided schools or primary schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS). The programme is detailed in the 2020 Guidelines on Meal Arrangements in Schools.
This profile was reviewed with the support of Dr Junjun Chen, Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Education Policy and Leadership at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) as well as Cheung Kar-man, Senior Staff Officer at the Secretary for Education's Office.
