Letters | Hong Kong students’ struggles are indictment of teachers’ failures in the classroom

Readers discuss educators’ responsibility to the young people of Hong Kong and supporting the elderly as the city reopens to the world

Education in Hong Kong

Letters

Published: 2:30pm, 16 Aug 2022

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Nelson Mandela said there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.

Yet, over the years, Hong Kong’s media has been replete with articles regarding its non-English-speaking children struggling with English language proficiency, its non-Chinese-speaking children struggling with Chinese language proficiency and ethnic majority Chinese children dubbing the Diploma of Secondary Education Chinese exam the “paper of death”.

One way or another, children are systemically underserved and educationally marginalised on the basis of language learning opportunities. Why is there this need to undermine children and disrespect their abilities?

What is remarkable is the consistent narrative of how hard it is to teach in an inclusive manner and provide equal learning opportunities for the children. In response, the Education Bureau has been generous with providing funding and resources, but even that does not seem to be enough incentive to encourage inclusive education.

Teachers are entrusted with empowering our young ones and securing Hong Kong’s future. With such power comes greater responsibility. When will this “blame the victim” storyline ever end?

Funding alone won’t help ethnic minority students master Chinese

Educators should consider owning up to the fact that they are accountable and have an undeniable moral, ethical and professional duty towards the children. Every child who falls victim to such educational poverty and such intergenerational, socioeconomic marginalisation is clear evidence of educators having failed them.

Manoj Dhar, Ap Lei Chau

Elderly need support as city starts to reopen

The government increasingly acknowledges that Hong Kong must open for business. Thus, the revised rules provide for the quarantine period for all arrivals to be reduced. In relaxing the quarantine measures, the government reportedly sought to strike a balance between risks of more Covid-19 infections and Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a business hub. Stifling important economic activities cannot be a sustainable policy.

However, we must not forget that the virus poses a specific and deadly risk to the elderly population. Living conditions in care homes in Hong Kong are generally unsatisfactory, if not appalling. Quality care homes are rare and mostly unaffordable. As a result, many elderly parents live with their children and grandchildren.

Even when vaccinated, the elderly are likely to remain the most vulnerable in terms of the need for hospital care. As Hong Kong opens up, they – particularly those with existing health issues – will be the most exposed. It is entirely possible that many among them will become infected with Covid-19 by younger members in their households, and they in turn would have caught it as Hong Kong starts to live with the virus.

This time, there must be effective measures to protect the elderly. The general public must be reminded to use emergency services sensibly so that capacity can be reserved for elderly patients.

The sight of elderly patients lying on gurneys outside public hospitals must not occur again. There must be enough doctors to give them proper attention and treatment.

No doubt there is much more to be done. It should be done now. Our health system has to be ready.

Clemence Yeung, Admiralty