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Hong Kong primary school taking stress out of homework for pupils by freeing up afternoons in class

  • Po Leung Kuk Tin Ka Ping Primary School in Tai Po sets aside three afternoons a week for pupils to tackle their assignments

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Principal Jojo Chan, with some of her pupils, says most parents approve of the arrangement. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

More than 70 per cent of pupils are taking the initiative to read at home because they spend less of their own time on assignments, a school using a novel approach has found.

Po Leung Kuk Tin Ka Ping Primary School in Tai Po is one of the few schools where pupils get more time to do homework in class. Some even complete their work before heading home.

The school, which has 700 pupils, implemented the scheme in 2016 to provide children with more time for other social or extracurricular activities. For two years, it has freed up afternoon classes for pupils to do homework in school with their teachers present to help if needed.

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Pupils can do most of their homework at school and teachers are on hand to help. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Pupils can do most of their homework at school and teachers are on hand to help. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

The tutorial classes run for an hour, from 1.50pm, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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According to a survey by the school, as many as 73 per cent of the pupils are now able to spend more than an hour after school reading, a significant increase from the previous 25 per cent.

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