Number of Schools Practising Autonomy to Adopt a Later School Start Time

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Education (a) how many schools currently practise their autonomy to adopt a later school start time, after 7.30 am; and (b) how does the Ministry encourage or facilitate schools to practise their autonomy to adopt a later school start time.

Mr Chan Chun Sing: Currently, all schools start no earlier than 7.30am. Around one out of seven Primary schools, around half of Secondary schools and most Junior Colleges start after 7.30am on at least three days per week.

Schools consider various factors when deciding on their start time. These include student profiles, after-school and inter-school programmes, transport provisions and local transport situation. MOE, thus, gives schools the autonomy to start at either 7.30 am or later.