Lonely and isolated: why Hong Kong’s gifted students need a helping hand

I believe comparatively little attention has been paid to Hong Kong’s gifted education system, leading to a lack of support for our exceptionally talented children.

Such schemes are essential in helping gifted students to learn at a suitable pace, with peers and tutors that understand their learning and social needs. A lack of suitable education for gifted young minds will become a hindrance not only for their personal growth but also our city’s development, as talent cannot be properly nurtured.

It is understandable that the government will give priority to tackling the education problems affecting the most vulnerable students. But public misconceptions about gifted students may also be a factor leading to the neglecting of their needs.

Five myths of giftedness in children

Most people believe that gifted children are simply lucky – they are born with natural intelligence and can easily outsmart their peers. The truth is, they are often extremely lonely, as they often find it difficult to communicate with their peers and are misunderstood.