Some Hong Kong parents are home-schooling their children to help their well-being

Sam said she could feel a difference in her learning, compared to being in a traditional school.

“Because the teacher had to manage so many students, I often felt like I lost the spirit to learn in school,” she said. “It was hard to keep up, so I’d stop trying and just ended up doodling.”

George and Connie*, Sam’s 44-year-old mother, are part of a small group of Hong Kong parents choosing to home-school their children. The Li family wants to focus more on family bonding and mental health and less on academics.

About a year ago, Connie noticed the toll that school was taking on her daughter. The pressure was also affecting the family’s happiness.

Now, the parents are using this year to help Sam and her younger brother explore their interests. Connie believes this is more valuable than exam scores.

“In traditional schooling, children are often forced to rote-learn, leaving little room for creativity,” she explained.

Experts say Hong Kong happiness is in decline

Home-schooling is allowed in Hong Kong, but it is not common, and the Education Bureau has no rules for what is taught.

The city has about 120 home-schooling families, according to Vivien Lai Mei-kei, a researcher who specialises in home-schooling in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Still, Lai acknowledged that this option has downsides. Not attending school means students may not have chances to interact with peers. But she hoped that society would see home-schooling as an option for families seeking a different education for their children.

The Li family was first inspired to teach their children at home during the pandemic when in-person classes were paused. They spent three months home-schooling Sam’s brother.

Then, when Sam was in Primary Five, she was miserable because of stress from her academics and challenging peer relationships.

“She was overwhelmed. That’s when I knew we had to make a change,” Connie shared.

After about four months of home-schooling, the mother noticed how Sam has found peace.

But Connie highlighted the financial and emotional strain of home-schooling, as the parents devote most of their time to their children.

“When you’re with them all the time, it can be exhausting,” Connie shared.

With personalised instruction, Sam shared that she gained confidence in her weaker subjects and felt more motivated to pursue her interests. Her dream is to be a fashion designer.

When Sam’s gap year finishes, she hopes to apply to a Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) secondary school. But her acceptance is uncertain since most schools require exam scores to evaluate applicants.

Still, her parents are optimistic: “The inner peace we’ve cultivated is far more valuable than chasing after a top university,” her father said.

This family’s emphasis on emotional well-being comes at a time when happiness in Hong Kong is low according to a few annual surveys.

For Connie, she feels that home-schooling has strengthened the family’s bond.

“Our relationship was strained before – everything was out of balance because we were always rushing,” she said.

“Now, I can focus on connecting with them ... academics become secondary.”