in. In addition to this, the majority of these schools
market. Firstly, the government should begin to
are not readily equipped to take on a large in-
subsidise schools with a significant EM population.
flux of students and are already overwhelmed as
They should also begin to establish more schools
places are limited. Sending EM children to local
for EM students with teachers who are prepared
schools in the hopes that they manage to assimi-
to teach and have an overriding authority per-
late and manage to adapt with the government’s
forming checks on these schools to moderate
rather unsuccessful assisted learning programme
teachers, but to also ensure that issues like illicit
isn’t exactly the safest bet as 38% of Hong Kong
activities are prevented and that the values of
teachers said that they are unprepared and
education are reinforced. There are many ex-
unequipped to cater to the needs of a non-Can-
amples of nations that have achieved successful
tonese speaking child - apparently, neither is
solutions - let us take Singapore as an example.
the government. The current system is forcing
Chinese, Malays and Indians living together in
non-native speakers to take a Chinese exam that
peace, they are able to learn both their native
is already dreaded by native speakers and is infa-
language and English. Although enforcing a single
mously known as the ‘death paper’. This is simply
language in all schools isn’t a viable solution in HK
unreasonable, but there’s no alternative. To add
due to the impending erasure of the Cantonese
to this, a study conducted found that EM students
language, there are principles we can implement.
are only being taught Cantonese to the fluency
Issues based around discrimination have been
of a Form 3 student resulting in them being left
touched on lightly, solving that is a step forward
behind their fellow peers.
- in Singapore, every year they commemorate vicious race riots that took place in the late 60’s.
So this leaves us with the question, what can
They do this by organising a ‘Racial Harmony Day’
be done? It’s easy to sit here and write a raging
where everyone wears their traditional clothing
article about the lack of resources provided to
and learns about different cultures to promote
ethnic minorities, however each and every one of
understanding and acceptance of differenc-
us has a responsibility to help all Hong Kongers,
es. Something similar in HK to inform the general
regardless of skin colour or race - whether we
population about the struggles and plight - to
like it or not. We must make improvements to the
maybe encourage cultural sensitivity, and may-
system itself. Although the government has made
be to finally accept them as, despite the cultural
a significant push towards better education for
difference. To really make a difference we must
EM students, they’ve also found an alternative to
educate. Change starts from our children, as the
the Chinese DSE by letting EM students take GCSE
children are the future of our city.
English or GCSE Chinese instead. However, this still doesn’t allow EM students to learn Cantonese properly and therefore limits them from the job 50
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