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Each week our two teenagers debate a hot topic. This week ...
Jeffrey Wong, 19, Diocesan Boys' School
Some people say students have too many holidays.
I disagree.
Students do get  a lot of time out of school in Hong Kong. That's because we live in a place where the east meets west.
We celebrate the festivals of two cultures.
There are 17 public holidays. We also have summer and winter vacations that last for two months.
Some say excessive holidays hinder studies, but I think learning still takes place during holidays.
Sports and music classes are held and they are well attended by students. In addition, more and more young people are going on study tours to foreign countries each year.
They can learn a great deal from such trips.
Students are under a lot of pressure. They have to attend of classes and tutorials.
Public exams determine the fate of many students' holidays, as they have to do extra work if they want to get good grades.
Parents' expectations also put their children under stress.
During holidays, students have more free time and can take part in activities or take a rest. It can relieve stress.
All in all, students deserve their holidays.
They yield benefits that cannot be gained in school.
Claudia Yip, 17, Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School
Students in Hong Kong are  looking forward to their 10-day Christmas break.
Shortly afterwards it will be the two-week Lunar New Year festival, and more time off.
It is a fact: students enjoy too many holidays in Hong Kong.
The present curriculum requires quite a lot of study time.
Secondary schools have to arrange extra lessons during holidays in order to catch up with the teaching schedule.
These schools need more flexibility in terms of time if they are to ensure a quality education for all.
More holidays means less time for teaching. It also means that there's no time for other school activities, like music or sport, which are supposed to help students develop a well-rounded character.
Parents place their children under their school's care so that they can go to work without having to worry. On school holidays there's no one to watch the students and they might not spend their time positively.
Supporters of more holidays argue that spare time is needed for students to take part in  their extra-curricular activities.
But if students are at school, at least they can participate in activities, and spend time with friends. If they are on holiday, they can't do that.



Do students in Hong Kong get  too many school holidays?