Primary pupils return to school with mixed emotions as well-being campaign rolls out

Primary school pupils across Hong Kong returned to class on Tuesday, brimming with excitement and apprehension about the year ahead. Education chief Christine Choi Yuk-lin pledged to bolster mental health support in schools as she launched a new campaign aimed at improving student well-being at the Hong Kong Taoist Association Wun Tsuen School.

The "Forging Relationships, Nurturing Well-being" initiative encourages students to support one another to curb campus bullying and create a healthy environment for body, mind, and spirit development.

First-grader Prabhleen Kaur, 11, expressed excitement for the new school year but also admitted to feeling pressured by upcoming exams. She aims to improve her academic performance and join extracurricular activities, such as the school choir and English debate competitions, to overcome her fears. Her best friend, Liyana Samreen, 11, echoed Prabhleen's concerns about secondary school placement, suggesting that the two form study groups during recess and lunchtime to manage the workload.

Despite the stress, Liyana was eager to reunite with friends after the summer break. She arrived with fresh school supplies, including a backpack, pencil case, water bottle, and lunch bag. Both students expressed eagerness to learn more about artificial intelligence this term, having previously used the technology to create model robot cars and digital animations.

Seven-year-old Jayden Yan Pak-kiu, also a Primary Two student, admitted to feeling nervous and worried about making new friends, but set a personal goal to be a more hardworking child this year.