Hong Kong Families Struggle with Rising Textbook Prices
· news
The High Price of Progress: Why Hong Kong’s Struggling Families Need a Break on Textbooks
The latest figures from the Education Bureau show that textbook prices in Hong Kong have surged to their highest levels since 2020, prompting renewed calls for the return of student grants. Many families are struggling to keep up with rising education costs, even before the pandemic.
The shift towards digital learning tools has led to reduced print runs and higher prices. Major textbook retailers like T.H. Lee Book Company feel the pinch, with assistant general manager Yeung Chi-lin admitting that “the publishing business is getting harder to run.” Schools are embracing digital materials, but this move has a ripple effect on the market.
The Education Bureau’s decision to wind down frozen prices in 2020-21 led to an average increase of 3.6% for the 2026-27 academic year – far from the negligible rise of 0.1% during the pandemic when publishers were asked to freeze increases. The ratio of frozen titles has declined dramatically, from over 90% in 2020-21 to just 20% today.
This trend raises important questions about education accessibility in Hong Kong. With textbook prices reaching as high as HK$6,000 for a single set of books, many families face impossible choices: cut back on essentials or sacrifice their children’s education. Reinstating student grants would ease this financial burden and send a powerful message about the government’s commitment to making quality education accessible to all.
This trend is part of a broader pattern in Hong Kong, where reliance on digital tools is widening the gap between those who have access to these resources and those who don’t. This issue affects not only struggling families but also speaks to the very fabric of our society.
The Education Bureau has a crucial role to play in addressing this issue. By reinstating student grants and working with publishers, they can help ensure that every child has access to quality education – regardless of their family’s income. A more sustainable solution requires creating an ecosystem that supports diverse learning methods and provides equal opportunities for all students.
The coming months will be crucial in determining the future of education in Hong Kong. Policymakers must put the needs of struggling families first and prioritize accessibility above profit margins.
Reader Views
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
The Education Bureau's attempts to ease textbook costs through frozen prices have been a Band-Aid solution at best. What's missing from this narrative is the impact of digital learning tools on small publishing houses and local content creators. Will these businesses be squeezed out by the shift towards online resources, leaving us with a homogenized education system reliant on international curriculum and materials? The government must consider not only the financial burden on families but also the long-term consequences for Hong Kong's creative industry and educational diversity.
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The textbook pricing crisis in Hong Kong highlights a more insidious issue: our education system's increasing reliance on digital tools is not only driving up costs but also exacerbating existing inequalities. While well-intentioned, the push towards online learning materials has created a vicious cycle of higher prices and reduced accessibility for those who can least afford it. The Education Bureau must consider the long-term implications of this trend and explore more inclusive solutions, such as collaborative purchasing agreements or open-source textbook initiatives, to ensure equal access to quality education for all students.
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
The rising cost of textbooks in Hong Kong is a symptom of a more insidious problem: the creeping commercialization of education. While digital tools may seem like a progressive solution, they're actually exacerbating existing inequalities. Many students without access to quality technology and internet at home are now at a significant disadvantage, making it even harder for those from low-income backgrounds to keep up with their peers. The Education Bureau's decision to wind down frozen prices has only added to the burden; reinstating student grants is a necessary step, but policymakers should also consider implementing measures to ensure equitable access to digital resources for all students.