In response to media enquiries about the allegations by parents that non-Chinese speaking (NCS) children with special educational needs (SEN) are denied access to equal education opportunities, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has made the following statement today (30 January 2015):

The EOC has all along been advocating for the effective implementation of integrated education for students with special educational needs (SEN), and has made it one of the Commission’s strategic work priorities. The matter is also included in the ongoing communication and discussion between the EOC and the Education Bureau (EDB).

The EOC fully appreciates the concerns of the parents that NCS students with SEN face significant barriers to equal opportunity in the current education system. The EOC believes that there is an acute need for the Government to review the education for NCS students with SEN, and discuss with public-sector, direct subsidy scheme and international schools on how to resolve the problem of inadequate supply. The Commission understands that the Government has commissioned a consultancy study to look into the demand for international school places from overseas families living in Hong Kong for their children with SEN, and the study is expected to complete in the second half of 2015. The EOC looks forward to the release of the report and the recommendations on the way forward. 

Meanwhile, the EOC will continue to relay the views of the parents’ groups to the EDB, as the Commission has done before, and closely monitor the measures taken by the Government, including those included in the Policy Address, to ensure that students with SEN can enjoy equal educational opportunities. Parents who feel that they have been subject to disability discrimination as a result of unequal access to education for their children with SEN can lodge a complaint with the EOC. The EOC will look into each case carefully and conduct investigation as appropriate.