Hong Kong education chief doubts smaller classes will improve pupils’ mental health
- Education Bureau also says it will only establish new schools if absolutely necessary as city faces shrinking body of pupils
The education minister has expressed doubts over whether smaller secondary school classes would make students in Hong Kong happier, as she dismissed suggestions downsizing could address mental health concerns on campus.
Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin made the comments at a Legislative Council panel meeting on the shrinking student population on Friday, when her bureau also said it would only establish new schools if absolutely necessary.
Chu Kwok-keung, the lawmaker representing the education sector and a primary school principal, said the sector was “very disappointed” with the government’s refusal to extend small class teaching from primary schools to secondary ones.
“Currently, mental health among students is a concern,” Chu said. “Imagine a class with 34 students, teachers will find it very hard to manage [to help students in need].”
A recent survey found that 1.6 per cent of Hong Kong secondary students attempted suicide in the last academic year. The figure for those that had considered suicide was almost 50 per cent up on the rate for 2018-19.
But the minister disagreed with Chu, saying: “Would fewer people interacting with each other in one class make students happy? Social development among students is also very important for mental health.