DSE Mainland "Participating Schools" Increased to 12; New Rule Added: Private Candidates Must Have Been Studying Since Secondary 4

The arrangement for Mainland examination centres for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) has been extended for a 3-year trial period. The number of Mainland "participating schools" will gradually increase to 12, but the number of "Mainland examination centres" will remain at 3. Newly added "participating schools" must ensure their eligible private candidates have been studying at the school since Secondary 4, in order to prevent a short-term surge in candidates transferring in to sit the examination.

🏫The Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, the Hong Kong Education Bureau, and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) recently held a briefing session to explain the latest arrangements of the trial scheme to Mainland schools for Hong Kong residents. According to representatives who attended, eligible private candidates sitting the examination at the 3 Mainland examination centres next year must, in addition to being students of the 8 newly added "participating schools" and holding valid Hong Kong and Macao identity documents, a Home Return Permit, or a Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, also be required by the authorities to have been studying at their original school since Secondary 4, in order to prevent a short-term surge in Secondary 5 and Secondary 6 transfer students.

📍It is understood that the meeting also mentioned that the 8 newly added "participating schools" will be assigned to the 3 "Mainland examination centres" on a "school-by-school basis," to avoid students from the same school being scattered across different examination venues. In other words, candidates from the 4 newly added "participating schools" in Shenzhen are expected to be assigned to sit the examination at Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School; while candidates from Hou Kong Middle School Affiliated Hengqin School will be assigned to sit the examination in Guangzhou or Shenzhen, with travel times also within a reasonable range.

💰The new arrangement means that the 3 "Mainland examination centres" will expand from accommodating candidates from their own schools and Dongguan Jinan University Hong Kong and Macao Children's School to meeting the needs of candidates from a total of 12 "participating schools." However, it is understood that the HKEAA will not increase the number of "Mainland examination centres" for the time being.