Hong Kong primary schools should move away from written exams to reduce stress on pupils: education authorities
- Education Bureau launches mental health charter for pupils, asks schools to review exam formats and frequency to improve primary children’s mental health
- Authorities also reveal in letter to lawmakers that 32 pupils committed suicide last year
The Education Bureau launched a mental health charter for students on Friday and asked schools to review their exam formats and frequency, as well as consider a shift away from written tests and cancellation of semester exams for some grades.
“In particular, the first semester of Primary One should include more diversified assessments and arrangements for more gradual testing in different stages of learning, to reduce students’ academic stress,” it said.
The charter also emphasised that children should get enough quality rest and recommended schools should allocate about a quarter of pupils’ time each week to short breaks, lunchtime, recess and leisure activities.
“It is not recommended for schools to schedule catch-up classes or subject assessments during lunchtime, to ensure that students have ample time to relax and have more opportunities to interact with peers or teachers,” the bureau said.
The emphasis on pupils’ mental health came after a written reply from the bureau to lawmakers that said 32 schoolchildren had committed suicide in 2023, the highest number in five years.