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An official from the Education Bureau has admitted that the government cannot guarantee jobs for new teaching graduates amid the declining Secondary One population.

Lee Kam-kwong, the bureau's chief professional development officer in teacher administration, yesterday posted on its website that it would be difficult to reserve openings for new teachers.

The bureau estimates that the number of Secondary One students will plunge from 65,100 in 2012-13 to 54,100 in 2016-17.

Earlier, the bureau introduced schemes to stop school closures while vowing to retain redundant teachers for three years.

Lee said the measures could avoid competition with new graduates and schools will be able to accept them, given that around 2,000 primary and secondary teachers retire or resign each year.

Teaching institutions could also adjust and balance the student intake according to the needs in the sector.

Lee added that the number of graduates of the bachelor's degree in education and postgraduate diploma in education has remained stable, with more than 1,000 each year.

"The bureau must point out that there should be sufficient rationale and consideration on the government's financial capability when discussing any suggestions in helping to employ new teachers," he said. "It is difficult to reserve openings for graduate teachers as we have been urging schools to recruit teachers based on the principle of fairness and openness."

Education sector lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen said new teachers may face difficulties in landing a job because some secondary schools principals have become more selective and cautious.

Ip said that new graduates have a slight chance of getting hired, but the government provides no details about the proposal to retain existing teachers.

Kao Chun-wai, a Year 2 student of Bachelor of Education (Liberal Studies) at Hong Kong Institute of Education, said his classmates are worried about their employment prospects.

"We are quite worried that we will be unable to get a job under such circumstances," Kao said.

"We understand the government's move to protect existing teachers, but new graduates like us will be less competitive compared with them."

The government has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of small-class teaching as there is no successful precedent, Kao said. He wondered if the government is just procrastinating on the issue.

He said that while many primary schools are implementing small-class teaching, introducing it to secondary schools will make it easier for students to adjust.