HK's Student Population Plunges as Families Leave

Students marked National Education Day on April 15

  

There is more news that thousands of students have left Hong Kong this past academic year, though the government seems to be in denial about it.

A survey by the Professional Teachers' Union found a quarter of schools have reported more than 20 of their students left the city since September.

Fung (left) says thousands of students have left

PTU finds the figures alarming, and attributes them to parents' concerns about the national security law, as well as changes to the education system, particularly the controversial liberal studies subject.

"The government needs to acknowledge and directly address this issue," said Fung Wai-wah, president of the pro-democracy PTU, one of the city's main teachers' unions.

This month 183 primary and secondary schools were polled and found about 25 percent, or 47 institutions had more than 20 students withdraw during the 2020-21 academic year.

More than 70 percent of the schools reported between one and 20 students leaving. Just three schools reported no students dropping out.

Around 52 percent of the schools, or 96 of those surveyed said about half or more of their students withdrew because they were emigrating or pursuing studies overseas, but the poll did not ask the institutions to give specific reasons why the pupils left Hong Kong.

Parents are concerned about academic freedoms

"We believe some reasons could include the increased challenges as well as political tension and interference faced by the education sector... The security law could be one of the reasons as well," Fung said, adding the government should not "turn a blind eye to the issue" and address it.

According to data released by the Education Department last month found roughly 19,300 students or 3 percent of the total student population dropped out this academic year, compared to 10,400 the previous year.

Of the pupils who left this academic year, 5,280 were from private and international schools, the other 14,000 from local schools.

The implementation of the national security law last June has raised concerns among parents and teachers over shrinking academic freedom, as now children as young as six years old must now learn about the four offenses under the law -- subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

Students 6 years old learn national security law

When Beijing officials says students should have a patriotic education, for many parents, the horror stories of the Cultural Revolution come to mind and they would rather their children be educated elsewhere. 

So what will the Hong Kong government do about the fast plunging numbers of students and teachers? Not everyone is eager to become patriotic...