Periscope

Varsity explores issues surrounding Hong Kong's Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools. Do they provide value for money? Is it harder for poorer students to get into elite schools under the DSS scheme? We also hear from teachers who face pressure from parents of students at DSS schools.

DSS schools get to receive government subsidies and charge students' fees, so they have the resources to provide better facilities and teaching environment. Does this mean they are necessarily better? By Gavin Li and Joana U

Parents are increasingly being seen as customers as education becomes more market-oriented. Some teachers in DSS schools believe this has led to greater pressure on teachers from pushy parents. By Billy Leung and Amy Leung

As more and more of Hong Kong's elite schools opt to join the DSS system, they will get to charge fees and pick Hong Kong's best students. Does this mean it will be harder for poorer students to get into the city's top schools? By Raymond Tse and John Yip

December's Periscope looks at poverty in Hong Kong: Young and Poor: poor youth face uncertain future Working More for Less: Hong Kong's working poor struggle to...

Reporters: Katherine Chan and Melanie Leung With a cap pulled over his head and a pair of black-rimmed glasses, 22-year-old Jay looks like a typical...

Reporters: Edith Liu and Rebecca Wong The best money saving advice may not come from financial planners, but from the 290,000 elderly people who are...

Reporters: Andrew Choi Tsz-hong and Piano Ho On a typical work day, 50-year old Tsoi Wai-man wakes up at around 5 a.m., gets ready and...