An education sector representative said Japanese was a popular option among schools applying because its similarities to Chinese could make it easier for students to learn.
In a reply to the Post, the Education Bureau said that about 170 applications had been approved for publicly funded secondary schools, including those for students with special needs, to offer languages other than Chinese and English for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.
“Each successful applicant will receive a lump-sum grant of HK$250,000 on or before August 31, 2025, to provide designated other language courses for junior secondary students in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years,” a spokeswoman said.
The volume of applications means the Quality Education Fund, which is funding the pilot scheme, is set to provide at least HK$42.5 million worth of subsidies to the first round of applicants over the next two academic years.
The pilot scheme is set to launch a second application round between January and April next year, with funding to cover courses held in 2026-27 and 2027-28.
