LettersGive Hong Kong students a life-changing opportunity – a week of work experience
- In England, it used to be compulsory for all 16-year-old students to complete one week’s work experience. This was helpful as most students lack direction at that age
- Replicating this scheme in Hong Kong might also eradicate grievances in young people
Being a native English teacher (NET) from England, I am surprised at students’ lack of work experience in Hong Kong. In my experience, those students who do possess any form of part-time work experience are from grass-roots families, and they usually find school challenging or place little importance on it. Students from the higher echelons of society usually perform well at school, but lack work experience or transferable people skills.
I find it baffling that the Diploma of Secondary Education English writing paper always has a question on workplace communication. Able students lack work experience, while those with work experience lack the level of English proficiency to comprehend and complete the task.
In England, it used to be compulsory for all 16-year-old students to complete one week’s work experience, which usually involved being placed in a workplace matching their preference. For me, it was a priceless, eye-opening experience as I saw what people actually did at work. I was placed with a property agent and, at one point, I seriously considered a career in the sector and looked at A-level and university courses that would help me transition into that field upon graduation. It provided a clear pathway, which was extremely helpful as most 16-year-olds usually lack direction and goals.
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