What concerns you as a parent in Hong Komg?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Aug 2002
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    What concerns you as a parent in Hong Komg?

    Before we go develop the content and topics on this forum I have a general question for parents who have children in the school system here in HK.

    What are the issues that concern you the most?

    Shortage of places in the schools?
    Quality of Education?
    Cost of education?
    Governance of the schools?
    Mandarin and Cantonese options in local schools?
    Homework, enough or not enough?
    Is the education comparable to back home?


  2. #2

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    May 2010
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    Our top three concerns in Hong Kong as a parent:

    Pollution
    Education
    Expense

    Pollution: The best education in the world doesn't matter if the kid is suffering some lung problems later in life. It also relates to the issue of health in general, where we worry about increased chances of disease given the "living on top of each other" nature of Hong Kong and general hygiene issues. It's one thing to be single or a DINK and just be like 'that which doesn't kill me makes me stronger' but when you see your child with going on the second month of the "Hong Kong cough" you really start to wonder if it is worth it.

    Education: There is tremendous competition not only for places but once things get going. It is easy to fall into a trap of over-pushing the kid because so and so has piano lessons at age 4 and chess every weekend and why aren't you keeping up? I generally feel the schools here start to early and would prefer a 5 or even 6 year old start for formal academics, as is the case in some countries (and being considered even in the UK). The admissions process is also frustrating, with 'interviews' for toddlers and a bit of attitude from some admissions personnel. Class sizes at some schools are also too high in some places, especially at the younger ages.

    Cost: Not only for schools, which are costing more than tuition at a major university 'back home' but also in the day-to-day expenses of raising a kid in an expat manner with 'trusted' food and brand names, but also with things like books from 'back home' so they can keep up with their peers should they return.


  3. #3

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    I have just chosen not to be too concerned about the pollution. Sure it affects us, but this is home and we simply cannot avoid it. Having grown up in Bombay in the 70s / 80s, I am fairly pragmatic about it and do not want it to consume my life. Far more important things to worry about.

    For me the biggest concern is the quality of education. Will a student who goes through 12-13 years of education at one of the schools here ( ESF in my case ) leave the school adequately prepared and at a level comparable to students from other countries.

    Expense is a legitimate concern. Tough keeping up with the Joneses when they're on IB style packages.

    Governance remains and issue - is the money you spend on tuition really going to hire the best teachers available for that money? Is it being spent wisely? Does world class fees equate to world class staff?

    Does the school listen to the parents? Are the senior management at the school level educators or are they administrators?


  4. #4

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    Nov 2003
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    Sheung Shui
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    Please see my experiences with local schools and you'll find that the cost issue is much reduced. Also no interviews for primary kids (except some DSS). Also don't you want your kids to be immersed in the local life so they become part of HK? Once they get Permanent Residency, they will have the choice of being part of HK as well as their passport country. Equipping them with the life skills to function here without language barriers (I.e. making sure they can use Cantonese, Mandarin and written Chinese) will benefit them greatly whether here or at "home", and should they choose to stay, will benefit HK as well.


  5. #5

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    Because I'm originally from Bombay too, I'm less concerned about pollution as Shri says. For the same reason, I'm less concerned about most other things too. I went to a pretty average school on the middle-class scale in India and so did my husband. However, we have no problems competing internationally. So I'm not that bothered about my kid being in the "best" school. In fact, I'd probably prefer he wasn't. I find the whole snobbery associated with these schools and the desperation of parents to get their kids in weird.

    If I had had the energy, my first choice for my kid would be a local school like Roger's kids. I would love my kid to speak Cantonese and have Chinese friends instead of living in an English-speaking expat ghetto. However, having done some research, I feel I don't have the energy to do what it takes to have a kid in a school where the medium of instruction is one I don't understand. So an English-medium school it will have to be, though I might try a Canto kindergarten and see if my son likes it.

    My concerns would be:
    1. Are the teachers nice to the kids (maybe this is my Indian background where teachers were routinely mean if not physically abusive)
    2. Is there bullying in the school? How would an Indian kid fit in? Would he face racism from either the teachers/students?
    3. The economic profile of kids in the school. This is my problem with even ESF - because of the fees are quite steep, the economic background of the kids would have to be affluent, relative to the average in Hong Kong (i.e. the local average, not just expats). I would rather my child mixed with kids from a diversity of ecomic backgrounds so that he doesn't land up with a view of the world in which everyone lives in Mid Levels and has a car.
    4 (maybe) how much homework and rote learning do the kids have to do? (again, as an indian, I'm used to a lot of homework and rote learning, and most people I know survived the sytem and thrived after but I am aware that it could also cause a serious aversion to learning).


  6. #6

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    Nov 2003
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    1. It depends on the school. The two I know in Fanling have good teachers who treat everyone fairly and are good to the kids (no abuse or hitting)
    2. Very little bullying in the schools above as it's not tolerated. The kids may find having a foreign classmate strange and make comments about any foreign food he or she takes to school, but will get used to it.
    3. Varied backgrounds
    4. More h/w than UK, less than China, can be an issue. Some rote learning, but critical thinking skills are being emphasised in the system more than previously.


  7. #7

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    There are also some EMI local schools (ask the EDB)


  8. #8

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    Aug 2006
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    DB, Hong Kong
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    For me it is not really Hong Kong specific concerns but concerns I generally have for my children's education.

    I did most of my schooling in the Catholic system, while not religious myself, it was a better level of education (I think) than public school in Australia. DH went to public the whole time. We had many arguments about the type of education I wanted our kids to be in (girls only, independent) and the costs of this versus almost free public school. Luckily, after many discussions and visits to the school I wanted the children to get into he saw the benefits and once we moved here the cost was not that much more than the private education I had planned.

    My concerns were finding the right school for my children. The biggest one being: One that would treat them as an individual and adapt in order to help them excel ( and I am not talking about being top of the class - just that they would do their individual best rather than just be a part of the heard).


  9. #9

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    Thanks Roger... point 2. is encouraging and I have a feeling hitting kids would be illegal in public schools in HK. Anyway, my son is only five-months-old but considering my gynac told me I could register him for a school when he was 14-week blob inside me, it's hard not to think about

    Quote Originally Posted by Roger
    1. It depends on the school. The two I know in Fanling have good teachers who treat everyone fairly and are good to the kids (no abuse or hitting)
    2. Very little bullying in the schools above as it's not tolerated. The kids may find having a foreign classmate strange and make comments about any foreign food he or she takes to school, but will get used to it.
    3. Varied backgrounds
    4. More h/w than UK, less than China, can be an issue. Some rote learning, but critical thinking skills are being emphasised in the system more than previously.