e-Bulletin for Parents - 26 January 2021

The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission (POA) will commence soon

The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission 2021 Cycle will commence soon. Parent whose children (including children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong) have not secured a discretionary place have been informed in writing by the Education Bureau inviting them to bring along the invitation letter and identity document to make their choice of schools at a specified Central Allocation Centre at an assigned timeslot from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 30 and from 9.30am to 12.30pm on January 31. The school lists of individual school nets / ‘Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (For Applicant Children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong)’ can be obtained from the kindergarten or kindergarten-cum-child care centre that the child is attending, EDB’s 24-hour Automatic Telephone Enquiry System (Facsimile Service 2891 0088) or POA’s homepage (http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/index.html）(the Online version shall prevail)

In light of the latest epidemic development of COVID-19, to reduce the gatherings of people and maintain social distancing, the bureau will arrange the parents of applicant children to make school choices at the designated Central Allocation Centre in different timeslots on the dates specified above according to the applicant children’s POA application number. Parents who cannot make school choices for CA within the specified timeslot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on 31 January. Parents are requested to follow the instruction of the letter to make their choice of schools at the Central Allocation Centre. The bureau has also arranged to send the Choice of Schools Form together with the letter to parents in advance for filling to reduce their length of stay at the Central Allocation Centre.

If parents are under compulsory quarantine or other related measures and are unable to make school choices in person or through their authorized representatives at the Central Allocation Centre on the specified date, they may contact the School Places Allocation Section (hotline at 2832 7700) for appropriate assistance.

Apart from the above, in view of the impact of immigration control under the epidemic, should individual parents of applicant children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong or parents who are outside Hong Kong be unable to go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices in person, they could authorize in writing a representative to bring the completed “Choice of Schools Form” and the “Letter of Authorization” to proceed with the related procedures. If parents are not able to make school choices in person or through their authorized representatives, they could arrange to return the “Choice of Schools Form” by post on or before January 31.

Parents who have recently moved or have plans to move in the near future are required to inform the School Places Allocation Section as soon as possible so that they can make school choices in the POA School Net where their new home is located. Parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If a false address is given by parents to secure a Primary One (P1) place for their child under the POA System, the application will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn.

The bureau has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of children as given by the parents. Random checks of applicant children's addresses are also being stepped up. The public are encouraged to report suspected cases of individuals using a false address to the School Places Allocation Section by calling the hotline at 2832 7700. As in previous years, the bureau will take appropriate action against false address cases.

For applications for participation in POA 2021 after January 31, parents need to complete the necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section of the bureau. The bureau will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children this June.

In the event of adverse weather or other special conditions on any day(s) during the period of making school choices, please pay heed to radio or television announcements on any special arrangements.

The results of the Central Allocation for POA 2021 will be sent to parents by post from June 2 to June 3. Parents wishing to receive the results of the Central Allocation of their applicant children via SMS message on June 2 may provide a mobile phone number on the “Choice of Schools Form” and indicate their consent to receive the results via this mobile phone number. For enquiries, please call 2832 7700.