The expansion of the city’s after-school care scheme has gained momentum following the removal of its quota cap earlier this academic year, enabling more low-income families to access the service. However, despite the increased capacity among some operators, others continue to face challenges in meeting rising demand due to staffing limitations.

The School-based After School Care Service Scheme, which launched in September 2023 with 59 participating institutions, expanded to over 200 by June 2026, providing approximately 10,500 places. The removal of the quota cap, announced in last year’s policy address, facilitated this growth. For the 2023-24 academic year, 2,915 places were allocated across participating schools, with each school responsible for determining its own quota.

Funding for the scheme is provided by the Community Care Fund, with primary schools supplying venues and approved non-governmental organizations (NGOs) managing day-to-day operations. Among these NGOs, St James’ Settlement expanded its partnership from six schools during the pilot phase to ten in 2025-26. The operator recorded a significant increase in student participation—more than 90 percent growth in the year following the quota cap removal, marking its largest annual rise.

Roz Ma Tsz-kin, senior service manager at St James’ Settlement, attributed the surge to growing confidence among schools after the pilot years and efforts to engage long-term partner schools. One beneficiary, Kasey Kam, a mother who joined the scheme last year after a decade as a full-time homemaker, highlighted the scheme’s positive impact on her son Kayden Kwok. Enrolled at CCC Chuen Yuen First Primary School, Kayden transitioned from struggling with homework at home to becoming more independent and participating in extra-curricular activities like acrobatics and a gala performance.

While some NGOs report sufficient capacity to accommodate new enrollees, particularly during the school term, they note the need to diversify programming during the summer months. The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong, another key operator, expanded its partner schools from nine to 24 in 2025-26—a 167 percent increase—prompting recruitment of additional staff to uphold teacher-student ratios of 1:18 for general students and 1:5 for those with special educational needs. The NGO also noted the importance of offering summer activities including artificial intelligence, digital literacy, and outdoor pursuits.

Despite the program’s expansion, some families still face barriers to access. Carmen Ng, a single mother from Sham Shui Po, reported that her eldest daughter, a Primary Six non-Chinese-speaking pupil, was denied entry last year. Although the child was participating in a Chinese language support program, Ng sought the after-school care service for more consistent supervision. The school classified her application as non-urgent since she was enrolled in another government-funded scheme. Ng further shared that her younger son, who has special needs and attends Primary Two, was rejected due to staffing shortages, resulting in him waiting unattended at school until an alternative placement was found.

The Social Welfare Department indicated that about 25 percent of beneficiaries have special needs but noted it does not monitor ethnic minority participation. The department emphasized that the after-school care scheme is designed to complement other government-supported after-school programs targeting varied needs. Additionally, it operates two longer-established NGO-run schemes offering extended hours—including evenings, weekends, and holidays—alongside fee waivers for low-income families.