Letters | How Hong Kong primary schools can nurture happier and healthier pupils
- Readers suggest steps to promote children’s holistic development at school, and discuss efforts to cultivate patriotism in the young
We are writing to share our thoughts on the recent changes to internal assessments at our primary schools. As pupils ourselves, we are encouraged by these changes and would like to offer some additional suggestions to further enhance pupil development.
In one of our schools, during Primary 5 and 6, pupils didn’t have to submit internal assessment scores, which was a huge relief to many of us. Without the pressure of preparing for difficult exams, we could spend more time with friends and focus on learning without constantly worrying about secondary school placements. Many of us find these assessments stressful and felt lucky to have avoided that experience.
In the other school, there was an increased focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) in the curriculum. STEAM subjects should be given equal importance to core subjects like Chinese and English. Splitting General Studies into humanities and science is also a positive change. While humanities can help us deepen our understanding of national culture, STEAM subjects are crucial in today’s rapidly evolving world. Additionally, incorporating sports science into our studies is important because balancing academics with physical activity is key to our health and well-being.
We also have a few suggestions for further improvement. We believe that service learning and volunteer work should be integrated into our school activities. Encouraging pupils to participate in volunteer work would not only foster a sense of community and social responsibility but also give us a sense of fulfilment from giving back to society.
Furthermore, we think that life education should be better integrated into our curriculum, especially in the later primary years when stress levels peak due to heavy assessment loads. Life education could teach us valuable skills for managing stress and personal development, helping us to become happier and healthier students.
We believe that these additions would help reduce the too exam-focused environment in schools and ensure that pupils’ holistic development is prioritised. These changes could build our confidence and motivation to learn, making us not only better pupils but also well-rounded individuals.
