Children in Hong Kong are raised to excel, not to be happy, and experts say that is worrying

Lawmaker and social workers claim cultural emphasis on success means young people’s well-being is not being looked after in a system needing an overhaul

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Pupils on the first day of classes at Fresh Fish Traders' School in Tai Kok Tsui. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 9:01am, 25 Nov 2017Updated: 10:36am, 25 Nov 2017

Childhood in Hong Kong seems more functional than happy, thanks to a high-pressured, exam-oriented education system pushing young people to the breaking point and triggering a decline in their mental health for years, a lawmaker claims.

The alarming trend of tens of thousands of children feeling discontent with their lives should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers that systemic changes are needed, several working with the city’s young people urge.

Their remarks come after a recent study suggests one out of every seven primary school pupils in Hong Kong has shown signs of depression, with academic pressure the main factor.

“The idea of having a happy childhood in Hong Kong is fading,” says Shiu Ka-chun, who represents the social welfare sector in the Legislative Council. “To the contrary, most people prefer a functional childhood in which children shouldn’t play but gear up for their future through rote learning and excessive participation in specialised classes.”

The study released last week by charity Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service polled 1,301 Primary Three to Primary Six pupils from January to March this year. It found 13.2 per cent, or one in seven pupils, showed signs of depression.

Some 9.7 per cent have been suffering severe depression and require clinical treatment, according to the study. The charity estimates some 33,000 pupils in Hong Kong could be struggling with the mood disorder.

One in 10 Hong Kong primary pupils suffer from serious depression, survey shows

Esther Tang Man-hang, who works in the charity’s mental wellness services for children, describes the rate as “alarming”. She claims if the situation does not change in the near future a higher proportion of young people will become debilitated in their future work and social life, posing “an enormous social cost”.