ESF unifies enrolments in line with ICAC advice

Still on the ICAC report, I see that The Standard has a different angle on the story (ESF unifies enrolments in line with ICAC advice):

The English Schools Foundation - known for being the largest provider of English-language education in Hong Kong - has reformed its process for student admissions, unifying enrolment for its 20 schools scattered across the territory.

The reforms in student admissions highlight one of 84 recommendations by the Independent Commission Against Corruption after 2 years of probing into the foundation's system of governance to eliminate possible loopholes for corruption.

According to ESF chief executive Heather Du Quesnay, the foundation, which had previously utilized a three-category system for applicants - students speaking English as first language, as second language and those speaking Cantonese and English - began placing students into two groups in September, which has simplified the process and eliminated all gray areas.

The two groups consist of native speakers who cannot access the local system at all and those who are able to enroll at local schools but would also benefit from English education.

"We have improved the admissions criteria to provide a clearer perspective for parents wishing to enroll their children in ESF schools," Du Quesnay said, adding that in previous years, employees of ESF had been approached by family members requesting help for their children in receiving placements at its schools.

"We wanted to be consistent and completely fair in handling student admissions," she said, insisting that guidelines for a standardized evaluation system will soon be in place to unify the foundation's 20 schools.

Schools in various geographical locations inevitably enforced different criteria for admission due to language diversity. "In the past, the admissions process varied in places such as Kowloon and The Peak," she said, noting that the prevalence of a greater English-speaking population would impose different criteria than those where very few Westerners resided.