The article mentions that the child’s English language proficiency is sometimes tested during an interview. However, as English is often learned as a second or even third language by the majority of children in Hong Kong, how are they supposed to speak the language before they receive formal education?
Even if there are a variety of language courses available in the market for preschool learners, how accessible they are is the crux of the matter. If a child were born into a lower-income family and the parents could not afford such a course, would that mean that the child was likely to fail the interview, at least in the language assessment section?
Some parents apparently prepare made-up stories for their children as answers to some interview questions, such as on family weekend activities. But such untruths can be easily spotted by interviewers reading the child’s facial expressions. Worse still, by implying that there is nothing wrong with lying to fulfil your goals, these parents are teaching their children the wrong values.