Face Off: Should cooking classes be made mandatory in Hong Kong schools?

These days, it is alarming to see the growing number of teenagers who do not know how to cook. To rectify this, Hong Kong schools should make cooking classes mandatory for all students in order to prepare them for the future.

There are many dual-income families in Hong Kong, which means there is a good chance that parents will employ a domestic helper to take care of the house. Consequently, the youth are growing up in an era where everything is done for them. Moreover, it is a common notion among students that “grades are everything”, instilled in them by their parents from a young age. As a result, academic studies and homework take priority, while basic life skills are neglected.

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However, what happens when students start university? Surely, they cannot live off instant cup noodles and hastily made sandwiches for four years. Buying takeaway every night is not a feasible option, which leaves them with no choice but to cook.

Picture this: you are a university student, standing in your kitchen with no clue about cooking. You ask your roommates for help, but they are equally clueless. What is the likelihood of making a tasty meal?

This is precisely why cooking classes should be mandatory in schools, since the only available time for students to learn how to cook is during school hours.

Cooking is one of the most fundamental life skills as it not only keeps you well-fed but also teaches you responsibility, critical thinking and problem-solving, all of which are applicable to schoolwork. Thus, making cooking classes mandatory directly benefits students academically.

It also enhances social skills and lets students interact with their peers while working on a project – in this case, a delicious meal – together.

As the saying goes: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

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Vijay Narayanan, 15, Island School

While cooking skills are undoubtedly valuable, implementing mandatory cooking classes in Hong Kong schools may not be a practical option.

Firstly, it is crucial to acknowledge that many schools in Hong Kong have limited resources, making it impractical to offer mandatory cooking classes.

Lesson hours are very limited in local schools. Priority should be given to other essential subjects, like mental health education or critical thinking, that students cannot learn on their own.

Moreover, what’s noteworthy is that many local school teachers already have a demanding workload. Even though cooking may seem like a simple subject, it requires significant effort from teachers to create learning materials and prepare ingredients for the class. Adding cooking classes to their responsibilities would further burden teachers.

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Secondly, the effectiveness of cooking classes heavily relies on students’ interest in the subject. Mandatory cooking classes could be a bad idea for students who have no interest in it. A more viable alternative would be to make cooking classes an elective subject for students, allowing them the opportunity to choose. Students who are genuinely passionate about cooking can devote their time to these classes and enrol in culinary school if they want to pursue it further.

Finally, students can find a wealth of recipes, cooking tutorials and more online. Embracing what modern technology has to offer not only saves valuable lesson hours in school but also empowers students to develop their culinary abilities through accessible digital tools.

While the idea of cooking classes may initially seem like a valuable opportunity for students to acquire an essential life skill at a young age, mandating such classes is not necessarily the solution. We must take into account factors such as technological advancements, resource constraints, teacher workload and student interest.