Matthew Murchie, 15, St Joseph's College School has long been seen as the best way to nurture and educate children. It provides students with the knowledge and experience to contribute to society when they are older. But some people argue it's part-time jobs that give students the skills and experience they need for the future. Schools prepare students for adult life by developing exam skills, improving inter-personal skills through group projects, and simply by training our memory with homework. Another common argument is that jobs open students' eyes to how tough the world is. But working a few hours a week doesn't reflect the daily work adults do or the pressure they feel. Besides, most part-time jobs are underpaid, repetitive and boring: hardly the sort of fulfilling work most keen students want. If students don't feel they are getting enough 'real life' experiences at school, they should volunteer. This way, they can help others and learn new skills. Not only do part-time jobs fail to hone useful skills, they can potentially give students an inaccurate image of real work. Students should focus on school until the time is ripe for work. Ronald Ling Pak-ki, 20, University of Hong Kong Many parents believe students should not have part-time jobs. They feel youngsters have poor time management, and blame jobs for preventing academic pursuits. But I think students do benefit from working part-time. A part-time job could be a golden opportunity to develop time-management skills. Working is a way to learn how to balance different fields, and allocate sufficient time to studying, work, family, friends and health. Parents should not overlook this long-term benefit. In addition, work experience has become a core requirement for youngsters applying for scholarships, internships and even future jobs. Most university curriculums have been increasingly encouraging students to acquire more practical experience. Apart from learning working skills, students are exposed more to society, and so are better prepared for their futures. In short, it is very beneficial for young people to get part-time jobs. The experience is even more valuable if they can get support and advice from their parents.
