Around 66% of Hong Kong upper primary students experience stress from testing overload – survey
Close to 70 percent of upper primary students in Hong Kong say they experience stress brought on by excessive school assessments and testing, a new survey conducted by a local charity and a social work scholar has found. A total of 5,200 pupils in Primary Four to Six were interviewed in the survey, conducted by […]
A new survey in Hong Kong reveals that nearly 70% of upper primary students, those in Primary Four to Six, experience stress due to the excessive amount of school assessments and testing. This finding was part of a study conducted by Caritas Hong Kong in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Social Work Department.
The survey, which involved 5,200 pupils, was carried out between October and January of the previous year. The results showed that 66% of the students felt overwhelmed by the high volume of assessments and tests they were required to complete.
In addition to the stress caused by school assessments, around 60% of the students surveyed expressed worries about an uncertain future. Following the completion of the survey, 40 focus groups were established to provide a platform for students, teachers, and parents to share their experiences and discuss the issue. During these sessions, students reported that as they faced increasing academic pressure, it became more challenging for them to cope with uncertainties in their personal lives outside of school.
Students also revealed that they attempted to lower their expectations to prevent disappointment when experiencing stress. Moon Law, a researcher from the CUHK Social Work Department, emphasized during a press conference that students often hide their anxieties and do not share their feelings with others, which can negatively impact their mental health.
He stated that altering the outlook for Hong Kong children's well-being requires a comprehensive adjustment of expectations by parents and other parties, rather than simply urging students to de-stress or providing material goods and extra tutoring.
Caritas Hong Kong recommended providing children with more opportunities to make decisions on their own, which would help them develop a greater sense of hope. By believing that they have the agency to shape their own futures and improve their life satisfaction, children's sense of hope can be boosted, enabling them to build resilience to face adversity and challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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