Hong Kong’s cross-border primary school students from the Chinese mainland will be able to take part in the secondary school places allocation (SSPA) exams in Shenzhen.

On September 16, at an online ceremony the New Territories School Heads Association commissioned Ikingfan Education to hold the exams.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many cross-border students from the mainland have been prevented from going back to the campus. As a result, over 30 percent of Hong Kong’s primary schools failed to hold the SSPA exam for Primary Five pupils.

According to Yau Siu Hung, director of the association, the exams to be held in Shenzhen will help at least 400 cross-border students from 20 schools to take part in the exams.

In Hong Kong, Primary Five and Six students are required to take three SSPA exams that assess their academic performance to allocate placements in secondary schools.

Prior to the ceremony, Ikangfan Education held video conferences with the school heads association and more than 10 school headmasters to discuss examination arrangements and plans.

(Lin Lin)