appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Shirley Zhao

Secondary school pupils in Hong Kong have taken to a citywide examination to vent frustrations over the controversial extradition bill, the Post has learned.
Michael Wong Wai-yu, who sits on the executive committee of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools, said on Tuesday there had been reports of Territory-wide System Assessment (TSA) candidates handing in empty or vandalised sheets or writing random answers.
“I think pupils may have used this method to vent their frustration because they thought it was the government that operated the exam,” Wong said.
The two-day assessment among third-year secondary school pupils started on Tuesday.

The exam, which tests pupils’ Chinese, maths and English skills, has been a controversy itself because of increasing criticism from parents and teachers that it leads to mounting homework and drilling exercises.
The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (EAA), a semi-public, self-financing body, runs the exam.
Wong said among 14 school-affiliated members on the committee, more than half said pupils at their schools had not taken the exam properly, although the members did not count how many pupils.
More pupils taking TSA exams, but stress levels among children are down
Some handed in empty sheets, Wong said, others wrote unrelated words, drew crosses or chose all the options in multiple-choice questions. Other pupils defaced the barcode labels on answer sheets.




“There has not been any group publicly calling for a protest through the TSA, so it’s very likely pupils circulated such information spontaneously in private groups,” Wong said. “I was quite surprised by that.”
He said he was concerned the exam, which aimed to provide a benchmark on teaching sufficiency in basic subjects, would yield inaccurate results this year.
Schools would not punish pupils, he said, because the EAA, in a guideline for handling misbehaviour during assessment, did not mention any punishment for spoiling papers.
Over the past few days, a message about a “TSA non-cooperative movement” was circulated on the messaging app Telegram that is popular among anti-extradition bill protesters for its security.
TSA or no, Hong Kong school pressures to remain
In the message, candidates were encouraged to hand in empty sheets, deface the barcode, vandalise their sheets, leave anti-extradition bill messages or write petition letters against the bill.




An estimated 2 million people took to the streets last Sunday to oppose the extradition bill, following Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s decision on Saturday to put the planned amendment on hold.
Protesters demanded she retract the plan altogether and denounced what they called a heavy-handed approach by police to last week’s protests.
The widely criticised bill would allow fugitives to be sent from Hong Kong to jurisdictions which do not already have existing extradition agreements with the city, including mainland China.
On Tuesday, Lam offered her first public apology over the government’s handling of the issue, but still refused to officially withdraw the bill, denounce police brutality or step down.


Hong Kong actor Gregory Wong loses appeal against 2019 Legco storming conviction

Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker cleared of obstructing rivals in chaotic 2019 Legco meeting

Hong Kong lawmaker denies exaggerating rival’s role in chaotic meeting

Hong Kong court jails social worker for over 3½ years in retrial on rioting

Hong Kong extradition bill

Hong Kong pupils deface TSA exams in extradition bill protest, but are likely to escape punishment

The Territory-wide System Assessment exam test pupils of various ages in Chinese, maths and English. Photo: Handout

Protesters cause a roadblock as they march on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai to the Central Government Offices in Tamar on the extradition bill and calling on city leader (chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor) to resign. 16JUN19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

How do you follow a record-breaking march with an estimated 2 million turnout? Hong Kong’s extradition bill protesters face challenges deciding their next step

Protesters outside government headquarters in Tamar call for the withdrawal of the extradition bill and city leader Carrie Lam to resign. Photo: Sam Tsang

Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor speaks at a press conference at the Central Government's Offices in Tamar, Admiralty, as she announces the suspension of the reading of the extradition bill amendment proposal. 15JUN19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Hong Kong's pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung speaks among protesters after he ws released from prison. Protesters remained on the streets overnight after a march from Causeway Bay to the Central Government Offices in Tamar against the extradition bill and calling on city leader to resign. 17JUN19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

People protest outside the Central Government Offices in Tamar against the extradition bill and calling on city leader to resign. 17JUN19 SCMP / Felix Wong

Protesters march from Causeway Bay to the Central Government Offices in Tamar against the extradition bill and calling on city leader to resign. 16JUN19 SCMP / Robert Ng

More Hong Kong pupils taking controversial TSA exams, but city teachers say stress levels among children are down

Students at the Sham Shui Po Kaifong Welfare Association Primary School took the TSA. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Primary three students Shakira Liao Yi-pi (left) and Adam Li Yu-wa talk about TSA, at the Shamshuipo Kaifong Welfare Association Primary School, Sham Shui Po. 11JUN19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

(L to R) Vicky Chan Wai-Kei & Ouyang Mak at the Baptist Rainbow Primary School, Wong Tai Sin. 11JUN19 SCMP / Felix Wong

News

Hong Kong

Education

Pupils handed in empty or vandalised test papers, wrote random answers, or ticked every box in multiple choice questions
Schools head expresses surprise at move which is believed to have been coordinated using Telegram app


Test papers were handed in empty or vandalised, had random answers, or every box in multiple choice questions was ticked in what is believed to be coordinated campaign using Telegram app.


Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor