Stress among Hong Kong’s students and teachers has risen to worrying levels during the coronavirus pandemic, local groups say

A study released by the counselling group Hok Yau Club found students rated their stress levels this year, on average, at 7.6 out of 10

In a separate study, the group Youth IDEAS found teachers’ average stress level had risen to 6.97 out of 10, and that almost two-thirds wanted less administrative work

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A pair of new studies suggest stress among Hong Kong’s students and teachers has risen due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 5:40pm, 18 Apr 2021Updated: 8:24am, 11 Oct 2021

Stress among Hong Kong’s students and teachers has risen to worrying levels during the coronavirus pandemic, according to two local groups, with one suggesting minimising educators’ administrative workload and implementing self-learning days for pupils.

The two separate studies were released on Sunday by the student counselling group Hok Yau Club and the research centre Youth IDEAS, an arm of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

The Hok Yau Club study measured pupils’ stress levels ahead of Hong Kong’s university entrance exams next week, and suggested the pandemic had taken a heavy toll on their mental health.

More than 1,700 Form Six students surveyed rated their stress levels, on average, at 7.6 out of 10. Although the score was lower than last year’s record high of 8.1, it was still the second highest since the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) tests were introduced in 2012.

The respondents said the health crisis had affected their motivation and concentration, adding that they believed the switch to online learning had a negative impact on their studies.