Is a happy childhood still possible in Hong Kong? Long days, homework overload and a pressure-cooker-like education system have many calling childhood in the city a nightmare. Critics have consistently hit out at a culture that promotes rote learning and exams over actual life skills. Two studies last year found half of teachers and secondary students showed signs of depression. Some point to the tradition of “monster parents” , a worrying archetype of Hong Kong referring to people who put their children through hard grind to produce the best grades. So where does it all start? Perhaps the problem begins at the preschool level. City Weekend examines. Surviving the system Kindergartens usually take in children from the age of three, for three years before a child enters primary school at six. The competition begins even at this stage, since securing a place at a good kindergarten can sometimes increase a child’s chances of getting into a more desired primary school. Even a good nursery beforehand can help gain a place at a famous kindergarten, which in turn sets a child on the right track. Stressed out local parents can often be seen scrambling for a place even before their child is born. It is not uncommon to see them enrolling toddlers as young as two or three onto courses teaching interview skills. Children joining Hong Kong’s ESF kindergartens to be guaranteed primary and secondary school spots The government’s Education Bureau oversees more than 1,000 kindergartens and nurseries, each with no more than 15 children per teacher. All are privately run, either by enterprises or non-profit organisations. But between 70 and 80 per cent of the places at half-day kindergartens are now government subsidised as a result of the Free Quality Kindergarten Education Scheme, which came into effect in the 2017-18 school year. The change took the government one step closer to its promise to provide 15 years of free education for every child in need. Annual tuition fees at non-subsidised kindergartens range from HK$20,000 (US$2,550) to an eye-watering HK$150,000 at international institutions. After spate of suspected child abuse cases, Hong Kong puts social workers in kindergartens As with schools at the higher levels, there are a variety of kindergartens to serve Hong Kong’s diverse families. English-based facilities are available from the English Schools Foundation, but all schools place a degree of importance on establishing a bilingual approach to instruction. The selectivity of kindergartens and nursery schools is often the centre of scrutiny. Both local and international preschools select pupils by conducting interviews to gauge their social, cognitive and linguistic abilities, even at such a young age. The process expects children to speak and write before even attending school, which has led parents to send their infants to classes in preparation. In 2016 a local couple made headlines after spending HK$60,000 on educational books for their 17-month-old son and five-month-old daughter. Nearly 300 Hong Kong subsidised kindergartens increase fees for full-day classes amid ‘rising costs’ On top of this, admission to many schools is conditional on the purchase of debentures – a personal or corporate deposit paid upon admission that ensures the student’s placement and helps fund the school. Debentures can range from HK$25,000 to as high as HK$10 million for the most elite institutions. Despite government efforts to discourage such a rigorous approach to education, and officials keeping tabs on schools, this attitude persists. Is it worth it? The government says pre-primary education can enhance children’s physical, intellectual and social development. It lays an important foundation for lifelong learning and personal development, such as by developing basic language skills and logical thinking, communication skills and creativity. Officials suggest parents look for an institution that offers a stimulating learning environment, well-rounded curriculum with inspiring activities, and a focus on holistic development, a positive learning attitude, good character and healthy living. Full-day kindergartens do not make kids smarter than those in half-day schools, Hong Kong study finds But the reality, critics say, is far removed. Many argue the city’s admission system pushes children too far and encourages an emphasis on exams. With a good kindergarten acting as the route to a good primary school, and so on, the system places extreme significance on how kids spend the first few years of their lives. In 2017 a study by the charity Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service pointed to extreme academic pressure as the reason one in seven primary school children in Hong Kong exhibited signs of depression. “The idea of having a happy childhood in Hong Kong is fading,” said social welfare Legislative Council representative Shiu Ka-chun at the time. “Most people prefer a functional childhood in which children don’t play but gear up for their future through rote learning and excessive participation in specialised classes.”