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Robert Badal
Robert Badal
Los Angeles native Robert Badal is an award-winning author, teacher and consultant. He has taught in the US, Japan, Korea and China, published research, and consulted for Hong Kong Baptist University and Hong Kong primary schools. His company is Ba Lao Shi Perfect English/BLS Press.

Billions spent on useless ‘ed-tech’ are draining badly needed education funds and profiting tech entrepreneurs instead of supporting teachers.

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Tuition centres are of questionable benefit to society and propping them up mainly benefits landlords. If the government’s focus is on education, why not spend instead to improve the lot of schoolchildren, especially those from lower-income families?

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The standard and instruction of English varies widely across Hong Kong schools, an educational disparity that cuts neatly across income classes and reinforces the wealth gap. It’s time to address this and give every child in Asia’s ‘world city’ a chance.

The current belief in technology for its own sake is misguided. Smartphones and computers have neither improved education nor brought happiness. Most of our digital pastimes are addictive and create empty cravings, not joy.

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Social media and smartphone technology are inherently addictive and e-learning might do more harm than good. Parents and teachers need to lead by example in the fight against device overuse.