Letters | What the future of Hong Kong education should look like

Readers discuss the state of education in Hong Kong, the new Legislative Council, and the benefits of making Soho a pedestrian area

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While education should be forward-looking, its future should never be yoked to the pace of technological advancement. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:00am, 10 Jan 2022

As 2022 dawns, it is a good time for us to envision the future of Hong Kong, which should tie in with the future of education.

It is worrying that a large number of students and their families have decided to leave this city for good. As Hong Kong does not have an abundance of natural resources, the supply of talent forms the cornerstone of our economic and social prosperity. It is vital that schools play their part.

In 2016, the World Economic Forum pointed out in its “The Future of Jobs” report that the world will become increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and smart technology. To prepare our students for the unknown, schools should attach importance to the development of adaptability and resilience in the design of learning experiences.

This way students will be brave enough to embrace challenges and face adversity. Most importantly, educational activities should aim to arouse children’s creativity and imagination so the next generation will not easily lose interest in the world.

While education should be forward-looking, its future should never be yoked to the pace of technological advancement. At the heart of education is the education of the heart. In spite of many potential changes, what remains constant are our values and belief systems.

We celebrate the emergence of cutting-edge technologies, but the misuse of digital power can deal a blow to humanity. Students should learn to make moral judgments through experiential learning, not textbook chapters.