Why getting physical makes for a better student: as the rate of obesity goes up, schools are ensuring a more active lifestyle for a more holistic educational experience
- According to recent studies, only eight per cent of Hong Kong’s children between the ages of five and 17 meet WHO’s recommendation to exercise one hour a day
- Squash player Tammy Tan and speed skater Ashton Cheung are the products of DSC International School, which focuses on athletic development alongside academics
When we think of an education in Hong Kong, there is a tendency for the focus to lean heavily towards academic results. Sports often take a back seat. Unlike some countries where physical education is given equivalent footing to academics, here there is a blind spot when it comes to looking at sports to foster students’ holistic development.
“There is a lot of pressure from teachers, parents and peers to achieve high grades in Hong Kong. As such, it gives students very little time and motivation to take part in sports and competitions, as it is something that is not valued,” says Karen Yeung, head of sports development and education at the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy.
Ominously, recent studies have shown that Hong Kong’s youths are still not getting enough exercise even since pandemic restrictions have been dropped. For example, a recent study by the paediatrics department of the University of Hong Kong found that only 8 per cent of children between the ages of five and 17 fulfilled the World Health Organization’s recommendation to exercise one hour a day.
Alarmingly, the same study also found that the rate of childhood obesity among Hong Kong students has increased to over 31 per cent.
Despite this, many parents in Hong Kong still prefer that their children spend time on studies rather than on sports, Yeung says.
