The sudden closure of Tsung Tsin Think Academy in Hong Kong early this month had left about 60 secondary students scrambling to resume their education. They were left in limbo for about a week.
However, despite getting spots at the academy’s sister school Think International, only half showed up when classes resumed on Monday (19 November).
Tsung Tsin Middle School principal Tung Fok confirmed that only about 30 attended class but did not say how many had officially pulled out.
Some parents who had taken their children out of the school said it was because of a “loss of trust” and a fear “the instability” will affect future teaching.
The 60 stranded students were confirmed spots at Think International only after some of the Academy teachers signed new contracts with the middle school. The suspension of classes was extended after about 10 secondary teachers refused to renew their employment contracts.
About 170 primary pupils were also affected by the Academy shutdown but they were subsequently transferred to other campuses under the Think group.
Similarly, some parents of the primary pupils considered looking to enrol their children elsewhere out of concern for the quality of education. With the transfer, class sizes would be expanded, with some turning into mixed-grade classes of pupils from grade four to six, reported the South China Morning Post.
The Tsung Tsin Think Academy had been forced to shut down after the Education Bureau discovered it had failed to properly register the school’s name.