‘Emotional education’ lacking in Hong Kong schools for both teachers and pupils, survey finds
Educators say they lack the knowledge and expertise to manage youngsters in need
Emotional problems among pupils have become an issue of priority for many Hong Kong schools in recent years, but teachers say they do not feel equipped to handle such concerns, a survey has found.
More than half of 400 teachers polled at 62 primary and secondary schools around the city in June and July said their schools lacked “emotional education” on how to identify, express and manage feelings.
The survey, conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, a service organisation for young people, also found 43 per cent of teachers said they lacked the knowledge and expertise to manage pupils in need.
“The results reflect that teachers see the importance of ‘emotional education’, but face many difficulties trying to implement it, given their time and workload constraints,” said Hsu Siu-man, a supervisor at the group’s Jockey Club Student Support Centre.
Statistics show that an increasing proportion of students receiving counselling reported mental stress and “emotional problems” as the reason for seeking help rather than family disputes or academic difficulties.
Teachers said students often became anxious or depressed due to a complex mix of problems.
Some 21 per cent of the 1,500 students that the centre dealt with in the last academic year were suffering from emotional problems, making it the second biggest concern.