2023 School Year ESF Fee Increases

[7jai]

Speaking of the devil. ESF just announced an increase to their fees just yesterday.

https://www.esf.edu.hk/fee-levels-fo...4-esf-schools/

Hope you have not missed out cost inflation by mistake, many schools particularly ESF have been increasing fees by leaps and bounds lately and i think they still have miles to catch up, i would imagine 133k Average cost is on lower side, add generous buffer to it..

Thanks so much for taking the time to sharing your experience. YCIS is expanding in TKO for the ECE, and we were thinking of checking that location out (as it's closer to us). But even if it we are in KLT, we would figure something out in terms of how to get there as we also know it's a strong school.

Why I am asking here is because I did read on other forums (and Chinese forums) that it's quite a "mainland school". That means that as long as you can pay the high tuition, you will get in. I also did read that the quality is not up to standard compared to their high tuition fees. Once again, this is what I read and obviously the definition of "quality" is very very subjective.

Btw, don't get me wrong, I have no bias towards Mainland or not. I actually think it may be a good thing as my son needs to step-up his Mandarin, and this is a brillant offline way to make new friends and learn new languages socially.


EDIT: I did a simple cost comparison (including all the hidden non-refundable annual levies & debentures). These are some of the schools we are considering for Primary later on, which is why we are figuring out what to do for K1/K2/K3.
Attachment 88595

[ndt]

Naah, still looks angel at the moment, 2 yrs of fee frozen, 3rd yr 2.8% and now 5.8% at bottom range, expet sleeping devil to awaken in coming year or two to play the catch up game, add inflation to the equation and expect to feel the fire of devil..

[shri]

One concern with ESF fees is the ssbvented fee issue. I see these fees in the table and am curious... these are still subsidised numbers and will rise a lot more sharply as these years will not be subsidised in the near-distant future?

I have not followed this for a while, perhaps someone who knows more about this can chime in?

[Beanieskis]

One concern with ESF fees is the ssbvented fee issue. I see these fees in the table and am curious... these are still subsidised numbers and will rise a lot more sharply as these years will not be subsidised in the near-distant future?

I have not followed this for a while, perhaps someone who knows more about this can chime in?

I think how it works is that if you joined a year group that was still subsidised, it will be subsidised until they graduate. However each year the first year of subsidy goes up a year. So the year group that will go in to year 8 in 23/24 is the first year not to be subsidised. When they move in to year 9, year 9 will no longer be subsidised etc. So basically if you have children who are younger than the current year 8 of the 22/23 academic year, the fees are not subsidised. That's my understanding anyway.

[7jai]

How much are those govt subsidies anyways?

Hard to see how much ESF will increase their fees over the next 5 years. Perhaps 7-8% YOY to catch up?

[shri]

7% compounding (72 rule) will mean a doubling of fees in 10 years.

[7jai]

7% compounding (72 rule) will mean a doubling of fees in 10 years.

They would at least need to get close to it I would expect? I'm just comparing this to other IS schools that do not have subsidies. Most of them charge around 160-180K per year minimum starting.

ESF is way below that amount right now and may need to play catch up to survive. Either that, or they expand their classrooms, enrole more per teacher, have more after school programs to make up for shortfall of cash, bigger debentures, annual levies, etc.

[ndt]

Year 8 2023/24- 167100
Year 9 2023/24 - 145400
Do simple math, year 9 will jump at least double of your projection next year to make it in line with year 8 + regular yearly increase.. Roll that formula for next 5 years... For year 1-8, i would assume 5% increase is the bottom range, ceiling is anybody's guess..

[7jai]

Then the question becomes if it's worthwhile to do ESF if the tuition will be more or less like every other international school?

[ndt]

Depends, ESF is too large and irreplaceable in terms of number of places, international schools don't have enough to fit in all so in a way no choice.. Besides, IMO ESF schools are not too bad and all international schools are not that good..