IS A DIRECT SUBSIDY SECONDARY SCHOOL WITH ENGLISH AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION. IT’S LOCATED IN TUNG CHUNG ON A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS WITH SUPERB FACILITIES, AND OFFERS AN INTERNATIONAL-STYLE EDUCATION BASED ON CHRISTIAN VALUES
YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC) was established in September 2003, which makes the next school year, 2022/23, its 20th anniversary. “Connecting with the community is our goal this year despite COVID restrictions, and we are preparing new programmes and a series of celebrations,” opens Principal Diana Lo. “The foundation of this learning community is the partnership among teachers, parents, students and alumni, and we hope we can use creative means to bring everyone together.”
YHKCC is the only English-medium school in the Islands District, and all subjects are taught in English (except second languages). Currently the school has 36 classes across six year groups, with an average class size of 25 students. YHKCC offers both the Hong Kong Curriculum (leading to the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) and an international curriculum (IGCSE/ GCE A-levels). Both curricula are internationally recognised and more than 70% of students pursue higher education after they graduate.
“In the past, we have had a higher percentage of students graduating to study overseas, last year due to the pandemic it was 23%,” Diana says. “We also saw a slight increase in the number of students choosing to take a gap year to gain life experience or work experience.”
Over 40% of YHKCC teachers are from overseas, and the school has over 70% international students from more than 45 countries. Most students at YHKCC are able to speak at least three languages. “Our students’ education is enriched by this cultural diversity which gives a great preparation for life in today’s globalised world,” Diana says. “Our aim is to enable our students to become confident and happy global citizens, who value and respect one another’s cultures.
“A particular strength of our school is the whole-person development of students,” Diana adds. “We use student-centred teaching approaches to actively engage students in developing their understanding, and we believe that academics, extra-curricular activities and life skills are all important parts of a young person’s growth and education.”
Intent on providing all-round educational opportunities, YHKCC offers over 40 extra-curricular activities for students to discover and develop their talents and interests outside academia. “We pride ourselves in our diverse student body, who are talented in sports, music, visual and performing arts, and showcase their talents confidently,” Diana says.
At YHKCC the education provided is based on Christian beliefs and values, and about half of the students are practising Christians. “We accept students with different backgrounds and from different religions, or students who have no religion. But all students need to understand and respect Christianity, and take part in devotional worship sessions,” Diana explains.
“As a Christian school, we emphasise ‘values education’ based on the Christian faith. I believe that a young person’s values shape who they become, so instilling the YHKCC’s five core values in our students is vitally important in preparation for the future. In addition to striving for academic excellence, we also wish our graduates to be worthy citizens who act with integrity, are responsible, serve one another in love, respect themselves and others, and build a community that cares.”
For more on YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College, call 2988 8123, email info@yhkcc.edu.hk or visit www.yhkcc.edu.hk.