e-Bulletin for Parents - 17 January 2023

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

The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission 2023 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 should make their choice of schools within the period from January 30 to February 5.

In line with the Smart Government strategy, the Education Bureau (EDB) will implement digitalisation of POA in phases from this year. Parents who have registered as POA e-Platform (ePOA) users and bound their account to “iAM Smart+” may submit the Choice of Schools Form for Central Allocation from January 30 to February 5 through the ePOA. The EDB encourages parents to register with “iAM Smart+” (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/reg.html) as early as possible for more convenient and faster Primary One (P1) school place allocation services. Please refer to the related videos and Parent's Guide on the EDB homepage (http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html) for details of the procedures for activating and logging in an ePOA account and for making school choices for the Central Allocation of POA via the e-Platform.

The EDB will send letters to parents on January 18 inviting them to make their choice of schools. To cater for the needs of different parents, parents can still submit the Choice of Schools Form in paper form by visiting the designated Central Allocation Centre at the assigned timeslot (i.e. from 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm on February 4 (Saturday) or 9.30am to 12.30pm on February 5 (Sunday)) specified in the letter. The “Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (Primary One Admission 2023)” of individual school nets / “2023 Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (For Applicant Children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong)” can be obtained on January 18 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 (https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/index.html）(the Online version shall prevail).

Parents who are ePOA users may choose to submit the Central Allocation Application via the ePOA or in paper form but they should not submit duplicate applications. Parents who have not yet received the letter by January 30 should call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB (Hotline no: 2832 7700) as soon as possible.

Only one parent of an applicant child is required to complete the school choice-making procedures. Parents are advised not to take their children to the Central Allocation Centre if possible. Parents who cannot make school choices within the specified time slot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on February 5. The Choice of Schools Form will be sent together with the letter to parents for filling in advance.

For individual parents who are outside Hong Kong and unable to use ePOA or go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices, they could authorise in writing a representative to take the completed Choice of Schools Form and their signed Letter of Authorisation to proceed with the related procedures. If parents are not able to make school choices in person or through their authorised representatives, they can return duly completed form by post on or before February 5.

To apply for POA 2023 after February 5, parents need to complete necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section, which will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children in June.

Besides, if parents are under compulsory isolation for COVID-19 and are unable to make school choices on the specified dates, they may contact the School Places Allocation Section for appropriate arrangements.

Parents who have recently moved their residence or have such plans 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 they provide a false address for securing a P1 place, the POA application of their child will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn.

The EDB has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of applicant children as given by the parents. Random checks have also been stepped up. The public may call the School Places Allocation Section to report suspected cases of using a false address for POA applications. As in previous years, the EDB will take action against false address cases.

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.

For parents who have already activated their ePOA account via “iAM Smart” or “iAM Smart+”, they will receive their Central Allocation results through the ePOA on June 7. Parents who wish to receive the allocation results via SMS on June 7 may choose such an option in the Choice of Schools Form. In addition, the allocation results will be sent to parents by post from June 7 to 8. For enquiries, please call 2832 7700.