Hong Kong schools waiting too long to identify special needs pupils, Audit Commission says
A third of children found to have learning difficulties for the first time were about eight years old or older – past the ideal age to begin extra support
One in three Hong Kong pupils identified as having learning difficulties for the first time last school year were around the age of eight or older, the government watchdog has found, raising concerns that they might have missed the best time to get support.
According to the latest report by the Audit Commission, some 6,000 pupils were identified found to have special education needs or low academic ability for the first time during the 2016-2017 year.
Among them, some 1,000 pupils – or 16 per cent – were already between Primary Three (around age eight) and Primary Six.
Inclusive classroom must embrace children with special education needs
Another 1,000 were between Secondary One (around age 11) and Secondary Six.
The report said first-time identification in Primary Three or later was not ideal.
“Early identification of possible learning difficulties can enable parents and teachers to provide the appropriate support to the students as soon as possible,” the report read. “All efforts should be made to ensure that students with [special education needs] are identified at the earliest.”
In a response to the commission, the Education Bureau said some parents might have refused to allow assessment of their children at early ages, before the pupils’ difficulties had worsened.