Hong Kong educators must focus on teaching critical thinking skills
Alan Wong says helping students develop their skills in critical analysis is far more important than cramming them full of textbook knowledge
The chief executive's policy address has made education a key area in Hong Kong and has proposed giving students a lot more financial support. But will it really solve the long-discussed educational problem in the city?
It is not news any more that Hong Kong secondary school graduates have low levels of Chinese and English skills. Mathematics teachers and even engineering and computer science professors at local universities are now starting to complain about the decline in numeracy standards. The exam-based curriculum here has long been notorious for stifling students' creativity and independent thinking.
As a Form Three student, I believe this issue is highly relevant, and I have first-hand knowledge of it.
I do not criticise the government for taking measures to support students financially, as they aim to ensure that no student will be denied the opportunities to pursue high-quality education. However, none of these measures will actually raise the quality of teachers; none of them fosters critical thinking or learning outside the classroom; none of them reaches into the roots of the educational problem.