Will government-backed campaign to change Hong Kong parents’ obsession with school grades succeed in city where competition is rife?
- Proposal comes after 15-month review by task force to look into home-school cooperation and parent education, set up by chief executive in 2017
- ‘Positive Parents Campaign’ aims to change mindset of parents through videos, articles and school activities
A government-appointed group has recommended a campaign urging Hong Kong parents to cultivate a balanced and more fulfilling life for their children amid the city’s culture of excessive competition.
The movement would be aimed at bringing about a mindset change in parents, as their obsession with academic grades could discourage the young from learning, said Tim Lui Tim-leung, chairman of the Task Force on Home-school Cooperation and Parent Education on Sunday.
“It’s understandable that all parents want the best for their kids but more doesn’t mean better because if it becomes a rigid routine of countless tutors and after-school courses, it strips children of their right to really enjoy learning,” Lui said on a radio programme.
“Parents need to give their kids the right amount of boost at the right time, and not dump them with playgroups and courses at the age of two,” he added.
He was speaking after an 15-month review by the task force, comprising scholars, experts, schools and parent representatives. It was set up by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor at the end of 2017.
A rigid routine of countless tutors and after-school courses strips children of their right to really enjoy learning
The citywide “Positive Parents Campaign” proposed by the task force is one of 18 recommendations submitted to the Education Bureau last Monday. The campaign will use various platforms to spread its message to parents, such as through videos and articles, as well as school activities to involve parents of children from different levels.
