North Point Methodist Primary School

Gazing upon North Point Methodist Primary School, can you hear the echoes of children’s laughter? This laughter carries the weight of decades, resonating through the very foundations of this historic institution. North Point Methodist Primary School stands as a testament to the enduring power of education and community. In the 1950s, Hong Kong faced a severe shortage of school places, exacerbated by an influx of refugees. The Chinese Methodist Church, seeing the urgent need, worked alongside the government. They secured land on Cheung Hong Street to build a much-needed primary school. Funding came from the local church and a generous donation of $75,000 from the Women’s Division of the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church in the USA. This allowed North Point Methodist Primary School to open its doors in September 1959. Initially a private, full-day school, North Point Methodist Primary School started with five classes and just over 130 pupils. It expanded rapidly, adding a four-story classroom block, a rooftop playground, and a special room in 1965. Responding to Hong Kong’s growing student population in the 1960s, the school transitioned to a bi-sessional mode in 1967. This meant running two separate school sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This doubled the number of classes to 24, serving over a thousand students. The administrative staff remained the same, working tirelessly to manage the increased workload. By 1969, the teaching staff had also expanded to over 50. Until 1973, the Methodist Church in the US sent a foreign missionary each year to teach English. The school was an early adopter of bilingual education, introducing Cantonese and English instruction. In the 1960s, they even pioneered using Putonghua for teaching Chinese language and literature, a testament to their forward-thinking approach. The school’s commitment to educational excellence continued through the decades. They embraced reforms, focusing on quality and development to enhance the learning experience. In 2005, North Point Methodist Primary School received a grant from the Education Bureau. This enabled them to construct a new, 24-class campus on Pak Fuk Road. This marked the beginning of a new chapter. The morning and afternoon sessions finally merged in 2008, bringing the school back to a full-day operation. In 2009, the school celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years of nurturing young minds. North Point Methodist Primary School continues to uphold its motto: “Inheritance, Cohesion, and Metamorphosis,” inspiring generations of students. As you stand here, imagine the countless lives shaped within these walls. North Point Methodist Primary School is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a living testament to the power of community, dedication, and the transformative impact of education.