For the thousands of parents trying but failing to get a spot for their child at an English-speaking school this year, here's a thought. Let's turn lemons into lemonade.
As a parent who has recently been through the agony of placing a child in an international school, I understand and sympathise with what these parents are going through. But record-breaking waiting lists at international schools and the English Schools Foundation shouldn't mean that a child cannot receive a quality education.
First, if so many residents - local and expat - do not see the local school stream as a viable option, it means there's something fundamentally wrong with education here. If we want to be a cosmopolitan world city and attract high-calibre talent from other countries, we need to provide more English-speaking local schools.
But, in the meantime, let's take a closer look at homeschooling. It may not work for everyone, and it's not a long-term alternative to school. But I think it is an alternative that families should be entitled to.
Currently, the law in Hong Kong says that education in a school is compulsory for pupils aged six to 15. Although school attendance is mandatory, the Education Bureau exempts homeschooling families on a case-by-case basis. Most notably, 12-year-old prodigy Arjun Singh made the news for being one of the pupils allowed to study at home. But he is one of the lucky few.
Compulsory education in a school is a fine idea if there are enough places. But if the children of expatriates are unable to secure places in English-speaking schools and these children cannot speak or write enough Chinese to stand a chance in local schools, then making all pupils attend school is hindering their education.
