Student quality is falling because, in an increasingly affluent society, many believe they do not have to focus on their future, Exco Convenor Leung Chun-ying said last night.
However, Mr Leung said he was satisfied there was still a need to expand tertiary education. Mr Leung, 46, a professional surveyor and council chairman of Lingnan University, was speaking on RTHK's live TV interview show Leaders of Hong Kong.
Recently, university president and economist Professor Edward Chen Kwan-yiu openly accused students of lacking motivation to learn. The president, who teaches introductory economics, said many students were late for classes or chatted during lectures.
Mr Leung said: 'Perhaps society gets wealthier and it seems some students are not so concerned about their future as students in the past.'
Recalling his youth, he said: 'When I was about 10 years old, my mother had to assemble plastic flowers [to help support the family] and I helped deliver the products to the factory. I also helped buy food in the market. Our family worked very hard.'
He did not think the rapid expansion of tertiary education was the cause of the falling standards, saying the Government had the responsibility to produce talent for society.
