Christian Alliance International School

Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School (CAIS) 宣道會劉平齋紀念國際學校 (previously called "Christian Alliance International College") is a primary and secondary Christian school that is based in Hong Kong that runs on a Canadian Alberta curriculum. The school is a non-profit organisation and is owned and operated by the Kowloon Tong Church of the Chinese Christian and Missionary Alliance (KTAC). The school requires all students to speak English. It maintains an evangelical Christian environment.

History

Previously named "Christian Alliance International College", the school is a primary and secondary Christian school owned and operated by the Kowloon Tong Church of the Chinese Christian and Missionary Alliance (KTAC). CAIS is one of 16 schools operated by the church.^[2]

CAIS began operation in September 1992 with approximately 40 secondary school students.^[3] In 1995, the school expanded to include elementary education. In July 2009, the Government of Hong Kong awarded the school a land grant for the construction of a school building in Lai Chi Kok capable of housing 1600 students.^[3] The new school building was originally expected to be fully operational by August 2015,^[3] but completion of construction has been delayed until 2017. Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Government, admitted that the delays were attributable to the government.^[1] A temporary campus was opened in Shek Kip Mei in 2010, and a second temporary campus was announced for 2012.^[3] Kowloon City campus reached operating capacity, and the campus at Lai Yiu was opened on August 2012. Students from preparatory through grade 3 are occupying the temporary premises until the new school is completed.^[2]

Enrolment and fees

CAIS presently accommodates an enrolment of around 950 students.^[2] Fees in 2014 ranged from HK$84,200 to 133,800 ($9,000–14,000).^[1]

The school indicated that it would operate a debenture system to coincide with the inauguration of the new school premises. Debentures will be non-redeemable but transferable.^[3] Students' parents would need to purchase "Capital Notes" or otherwise pay an annual "Capital Levy" for.^[1]

Facilities

The main campus in Kowloon City has been renovated over the past several years and has twenty four classrooms and additional amenities such as a dance room, fitness centre, home economics laboratory, library resource centre, computer laboratory, science laboratories, a band practice room, music room and visual arts room.

Academics

The school maintains an evangelical Christian environment, and requires all students to speak English. CAIS uses the curriculum of Alberta Education, Canada at all grade levels. Teaching is advertised as being student-centred, inquiry-based approach that emphasises integration of technology across the curriculum. In addition, the secondary program provides opportunity for students to enrol in a number of Advanced Placement courses that can be counted toward the 100-credit Alberta Diploma requirement.

Controversies

In 2005, one parent of a newly enrolled student sued the school of restitution of six months' school fees through the Small Claims Tribunal. The claimant alleged that her son, who joined Form 1 (7th Grade) of the school in September, had been repeatedly victimised and bullied by the principal, Arthur Enns. She claimed that since attending the school, her son had been picked on by the principal for various petty offences, and received numerous punishments and detentions. She also claimed that since January 2005, her son had been repeatedly called out of class and threatened and intimidated by the head, who in one instance forced the boy to confess to stealing. Enns allegedly caused him to miss numerous classes as well as a term-end examination. The child was said to be depressed and bordering suicidal as a result of the school's treatment. The school countered that the pupil was emotionally unstable.^[4] The Small Claims Tribunal dismissed the claimant's claim.^[5]

References

External links

• CAIS website