The Education Bureau has assured the sector the falling student population will not adversely affect teaching posts.

Responding to media enquiries today the bureau said additional recurrent expenditure of $1.4 billion will be spent on strategic measures to alleviate the pressure of student recruitment on schools.

Although the number of Secondary 1 students dropped by 5,000 in 2008-09 school year, there are now no more than four secondary schools which may not be able to enroll at least 67 students. The bureau will offer a number of development options for these schools to apply for in taking forward their development.

The number of students to be allocated to each S1 class under the Secondary School Places Allocation will be reduced from 38 to 36 in 2009-10 and further reduced to 34 in the subsequent two school years.

The threshold of operating an S1 class will also be reduced from 33 to 30 in the coming school years. This means a minimum of 61 students for three classes with a further reduction of average class size to 21.

The 2011-12 school year will be the double cohort year with two batches of students under the existing system and those under the New Senior Secondary academic structure. There will be an increase in the number of operating classes. Demand for teachers in the next few years will be keen.

The bureau will also review the demand and supply of teachers in 2011-12 and will consider adjusting the standard class size in the 2012-13 school year and thereafter to alleviate the pressure of surplus manpower.