NG KANG-CHUNG
KC.NG@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Monday, 14 December, 2015, 7:00am
UPDATED : Monday, 14 December, 2015, 7:00am
These primary school pupils are facing greater homework pressures. Photo: Edward Wong
Primary pupils seem to face a heavier workload than their secondary school counterparts, and more than two-thirds take tutorial classes after school, according to a study released yesterday.
On average, a primary schoolchild has to spend an average 2.38 hours every day on schoolwork at home, compared to 2.22 hours for Form Four or Five students.
The survey on how students spend their after-school time was jointly conducted by the Boys and Girls Association, the Professional Teachers’ Union and the Graduate Association of the College of Education.
A similar poll was conducted by the groups in 2002.
A total of 1,016 students from 14 primary and 27 secondary schools were polled between September and December last year.
According to the findings, 67.6 per cent of Primary Four or Five pupils said they took tutorial classes after school, up from 51.2 per cent in the 2002 survey. For Form Four or Five students, about 40.8 per cent said they took tutorial classes.
On average, respondents spent 2.26 hours a day on homework, compared with 2.02 hours in the 2002 survey.
READ MORE: Hong Kong parents plan class boycott over TSA exam pressure on pupils
The poll results come as the Territory-wide System Assessment generates considerable heat in the territory. It is a city-wide assessment allowing the education authorities to gain a better understanding of pupils’ overall standards and learning performance in a bid to improve education policies.
But some parents say that schools place excessive emphasis on drilling so that pupils get good results in the assessment. Pan-democrats have called on the government scrap the assessment, while a government-appointed review panel will release a report on the issue next month.
Commenting on the results of the survey, the groups yesterday called for more time for schoolchildren to enjoy leisure time. They said an excessive workload could affect their mental health.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1890937/hong-kong-primary-pupils-face-more-homework
