Student who dropped out of grammar school to pursue vocational education represents Hong Kong in ‘Skills Olympics’ held in Russia
- Ayza Lai dropped out of grammar school two years ago and enrolled in vocational course as he found traditional education difficult
- He is representing Hong Kong in the WorldSkills Competition, also hailed as ‘Skills Olympics’, held in Kazan, Russia
Many Hong Kong pupils begin preparing for the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam during the summer holidays after Form Four term ends – two years before they sit the city’s main university entrance exam.
However, Ayza Lai Chun-leung decided to make an unconventional choice around this time two years ago – dropping out of grammar school to pursue a diploma in vocational education at the Vocational Training Council’s Youth College in Kowloon Bay instead.
“My family, especially my sister, were initially against the decision, as she felt it was more important for me to finish secondary school first,” he says.
He eventually enrolled in a programme in print media, which included a course in photography, that appealed to him.
But Ayza, who began to struggle with his studies in Form Three, felt it was not for him to continue with traditional education. He discussed his concerns with his teacher, who suggested he should look for switching to the vocational track.
“I had just bought a second-hand film camera as I fell in love with photography after watching my sister take nice photos while on holidays,” he recalled. He also taught himself photography by watching YouTube videos.
Fast forward two years, Ayza, now 19, is representing Hong Kong to fight for glory in the WorldSkills competition in Kazan, Russia.
