Coronavirus: school heads, parents disappointed 27,000 cross-border pupils will miss out when Hong Kong-mainland China travel resumes
- Hong Kong students who live on mainland will not be given priority under a proposal to resume quarantine-free cross-border travel, Carrie Lam says
- Principal warns being physically absent from school for a long time will have psychological effects on pupils and hit social and communications skills
School principals and parents’ groups have expressed disappointment that nearly 27,000 cross-border pupils will miss out initially when travel resumes between Hong Kong and mainland China, warning that almost two years of online classes have taken a toll academically and psychologically.
They voiced their concerns on Monday after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor told the media that Hong Kong students who lived on the mainland would not be given priority under a proposal to resume quarantine-free cross-border travel because of the large number involved.
Lam has said quarantine-free travel will be limited to Guangdong province initially, and implemented in an orderly and gradual manner under a quota system – with priority given to business exchanges and those visiting the elderly or going to funerals.
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The number of students studying in kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong but residing on the mainland as of last October was 26,971, with North District taking up the largest portion of 45 per cent, according to figures provided to the Legislative Council by the government.
With the border closed for longer than expected, about 15 per cent of the cross-border pupils had withdrawn, a survey in May of 330 schools by the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW) found.
New Territories School Heads Association vice-chairman Chu Wai-lam said he was disappointed that cross-border students would still be unable to return to Hong Kong to attend school.