On the surface Cameron Zeluck might look like a poster boy for the traditional education system. The 15-year-old spends six hours daily on his homework, doesn't flop into bed until midnight and tops his class at Chinese International School.
That may be why he finds Leap Studio's extracurricular activities a refreshing change from formal classes.
'We recently completed a personality test to find out what we are good at and what we can improve on,' Cameron says. 'This allowed me to learn more about myself. I found out I'm logical but I need to become more involved with other people - more extroverted and not just think about myself.'
Anxious parents often tie up their children in tuition and academic programmes to bolster their chances of success. Instead of helping youngsters cram for exams, however, a host of courses now offer to nurture independent learning and self-confidence. These include creative writing workshops organised by Faust International Youth Theatre group and lessons in critical thinking with the Kelly Yang Project.
An alternative education centre, Leap Studio organises after-school activities that, among other things, give youngsters a basic understanding of the skills required for various professions, from architects to photographers, and how these jobs contribute to society. Designed for youngsters aged between six and 16, the programmes also help them relate the knowledge to real-life situations. For instance, they might try designing their own lamps after meeting a product designer, or work with an animal trainer following a visit to Hong Kong Dog Rescue's kennels.
With Hong Kong's emphasis on exam results, students may leave school with a string of As but find themselves ill-prepared to cope with society where negotiation and teamwork are often as important as their number-crunching skills or technical knowledge.