The city's school system must address different educational needs, cut class sizes and give support to all demographic groups, say parents.
The calls have come in interviews by the South China Morning Post with three Hong Kong families for our chief executive debate series.
A new way of thinking is needed to equip students with skills for a globalised world, according to an expatriate family, a local family and a family with special needs who took part in our debate on education.
As the social spectrum widened, they said, education should no longer be monotonous but prepare students for the 21st century.
Chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying promised in his election campaign to treat education as an investment and find ways to make the system more accessible for Hongkongers of all stripes.
Leung pledged to give greater support for the underprivileged and to ease stresses on public schools grappling with changes brought about by a decade of education reform.