children start school

[Whatever HK]

Hi there,

What is the mandatory age for a child to start school in HK? Is it 5 yrs old P1?
Does a child have to go "mandatory" to a kindergarten or pre-school before primary school or optional?
Thanks.

[civil_servant]

By age 6 school is mandatory.

Your child should attend P1 the year he/she turns 6, so he/she will either be 6 if born before September, or 5 if born after.

[chuckster007]

Same info as posted by cilve_servant but to add, if your kid has not attended Kindergarten some primary schools will not accept your kid is what I heard, in HK kids are shoved into the rat race from birth with some parents signing up for schools immediately, kids attending paid playgroup centers from 6 months onwards LOL

Every child in Hong Kong, without any reasonable excuse,[12]:Section 74, (1) is required by law to attend a primary school after the child has attained the age of 6 years.[12]:Section 3, "primary education" It is also required to attend a secondary school after primary education and is completed before he attains the age of 19 years.[12]:Section 3, "secondary education" However, child who has completed Form 3 of secondary education and whose parent can produce evidence to the satisfaction of the Permanent Secretary for Education, shall not apply.[12]:Section 74, (3) (c) (i) Education in the public sector is free.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Hong_Kong