The number of Hong Kong semi-private schools applying for a tuition fee increase has dropped by more than a quarter against a year ago, with the sector attributing the decline partially to the sluggish economy.

A spokesman for the Education Bureau said on Friday that as of June it had received 40 applications from schools belonging to the direct subsidy scheme (DSS) to adjust tuition fees upwards, a 26 per cent decrease from the 54 recorded last year. The number has not been this low since 2022.

The number of schools notifying the bureau of an intent to freeze fees this September rose to 38, up from 25 last year, marking a 52 per cent increase.

Dion Chen, chairman of the Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council, said the sluggish economy could be one reason for the schools’ reluctance to raise fees.

“Like during the pandemic, most of the DSS schools did not raise school fees. And DSS schools would also study whether they have such a need and sufficient surplus before applying to raise the fees,” he said.

About 470 preschools receiving subsidies and around 130 private ones have applied for a fee increase, marking a 10 per cent drop from the 660 recorded last year.