補習-Commerce college closure ‘heartless’

Parents and students of the Sacred Heart Canossian College of Commerce say they are not happy with the arrangements to transfer students when the college closes its doors in August.

There had been reports earlier that the school would close because of falling rolls, though this was only announced on Monday.

About 100 students and parents yesterday attended a meeting at the school to discuss transfer arrangements.

The closure will affect about 400 students, 110 of whom are Year One students of the Higher Diploma in Business Studies.

Emerging from the meeting, a woman who identified herself as Kwok called for the closure to be postponed until her daughter completes her study.

Another parent quoted the school principal as saying another briefing session will be held next week.

According to reports, affected Year One students can transfer to either the Hong Kong College of Technology, Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Caritas Bianchi College of Careers or the Open University.

The college was founded in 1905 by the Italian missionary Sister Clelia Martinelli to provide commercial classes and has since been regarded as a cradle of company secretaries.

Among its alumni are former Miss Hong Kong Mary Cheung and prominent model “Angelababy” Yeung Wing.

“Those schools [for transferrals] are not what we want. This is totally heartless because we came here for the school’s reputation,” one student said.

An anonymous parent said she was worried about her daughter’s future as she had no confidence in the schools selected for transfers.

Chan Cheuk-hay, president and principal of the Hong Kong College of Technology, said its three higher diploma courses will be ready for Year One students in September. About 100 places will be on offer.

Chan said applications will be accepted up to the end of February.

The spokeswoman for the Open University of Hong Kong said affected students can take its courses in distance learning.