Experts call for value-centered learning, parental support, and inclusive practices at a China Daily roundtable
Hong Kong should enhance its early childhood education to cultivate a generation ready for the future while reinforcing it as a key factor in the talent-tug-of-war, according to the education chief and industry stakeholders in the city.
China Daily Hong Kong Edition’s flagship Mastermind Roundtable last month gathered about 30 education experts, including principals and educators at top nurseries and primary schools. They called for a paradigm shift from academic-centered education to value-centered education, as well as increased support for children from ethnic minorities.
In her opening remarks, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said that Hong Kong’s high-quality and affordable kindergarten education is a significant draw for global talent. Children of incoming professionals through different talent admission programs are all eligible for the city’s free-kindergarten education system, she said.
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Initiated in the 2017-18 academic year, the free-kindergarten education policy marked a significant advancement in the city’s preschool education landscape.
This initiative provides eligible local nonprofit kindergartens with a fundamental subsidy to offer a three-year, half-day program to all qualifying children. It complements various strategies that ensure accessible, high-quality kindergarten education at affordable rates, expanding students’ options to match their individual needs.
Choi stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has consistently prioritized early childhood education, and has recently implemented several initiatives to enhance effectiveness and sustain the positive growth of the sector.
Zhou Li, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Hong Kong, and chairman of the Asia Leadership Roundtable, highlighted Hong Kong’s efforts to expand its pool of top-notch talent. He also underlined the unparalleled surge in technological advancements that demand the nurturing of local talent.
The high-standard event held by China Daily Hong Kong Edition aimed to invigorate the development of a generation well-prepared for the future, Zhou said.
He reiterated the significance of early childhood in individual growth, describing it as a crucial phase for nurturing cognitive, emotional, and social abilities, and establishing lifelong learning habits.
The publisher also shared the newspaper’s growing commitment to local education. In 2015, the newspaper established its educational arm, VDO English, dedicated to facilitating language skills development and cross-cultural exchanges between local students and their peers on the Chinese mainland.
In 2023, it launched the Kindergarten Category of its flagship English public-speaking competition, aiming to create a quality platform for children to enjoy fun English learning.
The Mastermind Roundtable itself represents another major push by China Daily Hong Kong Edition to engage readers. Since its inaugural event in May 2023, the roundtable brings together industry experts to share insights on pressing issues and trending topics both domestically and globally.
The two-hour Mastermind Roundtable on early childhood education marked the fifth edition of such gatherings. Previous events focused on topics such as sustainable tourism and hospitality’s growing importance in economic advancement, and Hong Kong’s position in the global financial market.
David Fong Man-hung, who chairs the Fong Shu Fook Tong Foundation and the Fong’s Family Foundation — which have supported multiple initiatives at Hong Kong Baptist University — shared his insight as one of the speakers.
He said that in today’s swiftly evolving society, imparting timeless values and fundamental life principles to children, especially in terms of morals and character, is crucial. He added these values will help them navigate the unpredictable future, regardless of technological progress, conflicts, or increased prosperity.
Christine Lau Ma Lo-ming, founder and principal of JEMS Character Academy, said that while education traditionally focused on preparing children for the workforce, the rapidly evolving society makes it difficult to anticipate future job landscapes, considering the technological uncertainties.
She stressed the importance of fostering human connections and developing key skills such as social and emotional intelligence, teamwork, compassion, and self-awareness.
Many speakers spotlighted parenting as a focal point in early childhood education.
Alex Mo Tik-sang, CEO of the WEMP Foundation, which promotes children’s mental health, called for increased support and “training” for parents. Mo said that children, especially those under 12, primarily learn by mirroring parental behavior. However, many young, inexperienced parents fail to serve as good examples when they grapple with the work pressures and their lack of parenting skills.
Mo also underscored the need for both parents to engage in childcare, sharing his observation that 90 percent of participants in his training sessions were mothers — a trend he believes warrants societal contemplation.
Jenny Chong Mei-chun, head principal of Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, advised parents against blindly adopting others’ methods, which may lead to growing parental anxiety. She suggested integrating education into daily life, such as involving children in chores to boost their self-management skills, which can also benefit their learning and development.
She also said that Hong Kong parents are having fewer kids and striving to provide optimal environments for their offspring, such as enrolling them in multiple tutoring centers, which sometimes pressures both the children and the parents.
The education sector, on the other hand, should evaluate students based on broader criteria, including personal qualities, manners, and communication skills, instead of solely relying on students’ awards as admission criteria.
Echoing Chong, Shaun Porter, principal (international program) at Dalton School Hong Kong, said that schools internationally are opting for a more personalized and interdisciplinary curriculum that responds to students’ interests and requirements.
In addition to courses focused on improving exam results and rankings, educational institutions should help students cultivate creativity, critical thinking, communication skills, and a lasting enthusiasm for lifelong learning, he said.
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Ellen Lau Sin-tung, director of training at Preface, a technology-training company, said she hopes children can retain a curiosity about new developments in the world. She suggested parents assist their children in staying informed about the latest developments in society and industry.
Experts also addressed the needs of children from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.
Manoj Dhar, CEO of educational NGO Integrated Brilliant Education, emphasized the need for comprehensive language learning resources for these children to give them equal access to educational opportunities, since ethnic minority children generally face challenges in mastering Cantonese and Mandarin, in contrast to Chinese students who often wrestle with English. He advocated for more resources for trilingual education to help ethnic minority children effectively integrate into the city.
Shalini Mahtani, CEO of the Zubin Mahtani Gidumal Foundation, called for a more-inclusive school environment that can address the specific needs of children from diverse ethnic backgrounds — whose population continues to grow — to ensure they can flourish and thrive in the city, known for its internationality and diversity.
