Face Off: Should schools shrink class sizes to improve student mental health?

With the escalating mental health crisis among children and teenagers in Hong Kong, there is an urgent need for schools, teachers, parents, and students to identify and implement practical strategies to address this pressing issue.

While some may view mental health issues as solely personal, others see the classroom as a potential solution. I believe smaller classrooms have the potential to improve students’ mental health.

A smaller class size means enhanced engagement between teachers, students, and peers, which can facilitate an individualised learning experience. As the connection is more intimate in a smaller class, teachers can better understand how each student learns and adapts during the lesson. This not only improves the teacher’s relationship with their students but also allows them to tailor their teaching methods.

As teachers can provide more personalised mentorship based on each student’s unique characteristics, students may feel a better sense of belonging and worth, elevating their participation in the classroom.

In its 2023 Circular Memorandum, the Hong Kong Education Bureau underscored the importance of interaction, sharing, communication and trust in a school and classroom. They highlighted that in a more “intimate and trusting relationship between teachers and students, students will be more willing to express their emotions and seek help from their class teachers, thus reinforcing their safety net.” This sense of belonging in the classroom is essential for good mental health, emphasising our role in creating such an environment.

In larger classes, people may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or unheard, which may be detrimental to their mental health. They may also be afraid to speak up and ask questions when nervous. This contributes to a stressful learning environment, distracting students from focusing on their learning and growth.

Meanwhile, small classes can increase classroom engagement and focus. Students may receive better academic and emotional support, be given more timely feedback, and have more opportunities to think critically.

Smaller classroom sizes offer a personalised learning experience and foster a supportive community, which are significant factors for better mental health.

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Today’s students are confronted with many hurdles in their daily lives, leading to a decline in their mental well-being. The relentless pursuit of high exam scores often results in reduced rest time and increased study hours, which only makes the problem worse.

Some suggest shrinking class sizes to combat this crisis, but I don’t think that is the best solution.

First, there aren’t enough resources for schools to shrink class sizes. Many schools don’t have enough spare classrooms for every grade level, so construction on schools would be needed to carry out this ambitious proposal.

The scale of this project would be too large financially, and it may create too much noise and disturb the students.

If schools were to reduce their enrolment quota to shrink class sizes, then competition for admission would become more intense. Students would have to get more tutoring and would be forced to work harder to get a better offer from an elite school, which would further worsen their mental health.

Shrinking class sizes is not effective way to help students relieve stress. Students from different secondary schools all compete for offers from highly-ranked universities. They are still competing with all the students at the same level even if the number of students in their class shrinks.

In addition, shrinking class sizes would not mean teachers could focus more on every student. Teachers cannot always understand the adversity each student is facing. They are not trained mental health professionals and cannot be expected to support pupils this way.

The causes of students’ deteriorating mental health are not limited to academic pressures. Their relationships with family, friends, and teachers also play a crucial role.

Bullying, in particular, can severely impact a student’s self-esteem and confidence. Schools must create safe, bullying-free environments for their students.

Shrinking class sizes alone is not the solution to improving students’ mental health. More needs to be done.

A comprehensive plan involving a balance between academics and rest, and the collective efforts of parents, schools and the Education Bureau, is needed for the development of the next generation.