EDUCATION should have the wider role of developing individuals who not only have a sound academic grounding, but also the vision to enhance the quality of their society.
However, a hectic and extremely competitive society like Hong Kong has made it difficult to produce balanced educated human beings to fulfil such higher calling.
This concern was expressed by University of Hong Kong Vice-Chancellor Professor Wang Gungwu, who was guest-of-honour at the recent speech day of Diocesan Girls' School (DGS).
Professor Wang said our society's fast-paced changes had left Hong Kong with more marriage and family breakdowns, more mental patients, degradation of the environment and fears of an uncertain future.
'The danger in change is that we often forget the roots that make us what we are and throw away those values and traditions that are important for our society,' he said.
Students should be aware of the changes in society and the world, and learn how to judge and evaluate them, he added.