Fewer Hong Kong school pupils opt for science subjects, endangering government bid to boost technology sector
Critics blame the reformed education system which they say places greater emphasis on arts subjects; meanwhile universities are now offering catch-up courses to science students
Hong Kong’s government-funded secondary schools have seen drastically fewer students opting for science subjects, raising concern over the impact this may have on the government’s plan to boost innovation and technology in the city.
Ironically, the reason for the decline may lie at the door of another government policy – changes to the school system and the introduction of a new examination, the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE).
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The Post found four electives – physics, chemistry and two maths subjects – were among the worst-hit subjects, with the percentage of pupils taking them down as much as a half since 2012.
Scholars and educators believe a more art-heavy and demanding curriculum after education reforms in 2009 discouraged students from pursuing science at the secondary level.
In reaction to the development, university science faculties, noting that students did not have a good enough grounding in the subject, started to offer courses to allow them to catch up with the basics.
To boost the city’s technology development, the government set up an Innovation and Technology Bureau. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced in his policy address this year a HK$2 billion fund to encourage investment in start-ups, on top of a HK$500 million fund to finance innovation projects.