Coronavirus: worried parents flood student-counselling hotline with Covid-related inquiries ahead of Hong Kong exams
- Six candidates have been admitted to a special exam centre at the Penny’s Bay quarantine camp to sit Friday’s English test
- Counsellor at student guidance centre Hok Yau Club says parents looking for information do not want to disturb their children who are in exam preparation mode
The exam authorities said that as of Wednesday six candidates, four of whom were infected, had been admitted to a special exam centre at the Penny’s Bay quarantine camp to sit the English test on Friday.
Some students sitting the tests said they had been stuck at home for almost two months and feared their performance would be affected if they came down with a fever.
Ng Po-shing, a consultant at student guidance centre Hok Yau Club, which operates the DSE hotline, said parents usually accounted for only 30 to 40 per cent of the calls they received, but over the past month that had risen to about half.
“The parents are not as familiar with the situation as the students. They dare not ask or disturb their children, who are now in exam preparation mode,” said Ng, adding that about 10 calls had been received over the past week.
DSE candidate Wincy Hung Wan-kei, 18, said she was worried about testing positive on exam days even though she had been vaccinated.