In response to the fifth wave of the outbreak in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau announced earlier that all schools in Hong Kong will open the "summer vacation" no later than the 7th to 17th of this month, but the measures have caused trouble for grassroots families.
A group conducted a questionnaire survey this month to understand the impact of an early summer vacation on them.
The results show that 90% of parents believe that the pressure is mainly due to the need for more time to take care of their children, which also includes worrying about their children's learning progress, physical and psychological conditions, etc.
Another 65% of the children surveyed said they did not want to take the summer vacation earlier, and more than half of the children surveyed felt helpless about the special vacation.
The group urges the government to provide learning development support grants for underprivileged children, and to consult schools and parents as soon as possible to prepare for the resumption of physical classes.
From the 21st to the 26th of this month, the Joint Concern about the Development Rights of School Children conducted a questionnaire survey to grassroots families to understand the impact of early summer vacation on them.
(Photo by Lu Ningmin)
From the 21st to the 26th of this month, the Joint Concern about the Development Rights of School Children conducted a questionnaire survey to grassroots families to understand the impact of early summer vacation on them.
Nearly half of the respondents lived in subdivided flats, and the average monthly income of the interviewed households was below the poverty line of 50% of the median income. The survey collected 505 valid parent questionnaires and 371 valid child questionnaires.
The results show that 85% of the parents surveyed said that because they need to take care of the family during their children's holidays, they would not go out to work during special holidays. Arranging activities for children and being unable to cover the required expenses.
Regarding the government's sudden announcement of an early summer vacation, 40% of the parents surveyed said that the notification time was insufficient, half of the parents were worried, and 40% of the parents were confused.
More than 90% of parents worry that their children will not keep up with their studies
In addition, the average score of grassroots parents who are worried about their children's learning is 8.6 (with 10 being the highest score), and more than 90% of parents are worried that their children will not keep up with the learning progress.
The increase in the time spent at home has greatly increased the amount of time school children spend using computers. Ninety-five percent of parents are worried that their children will have poor eyesight, such as myopia or astigmatism. .
In terms of their children's psychological or mental state, parents are worried about 8 points, and 65% of parents are worried that their children's emotions will become unstable.
80% of parents do not plan any activities for their children during special holidays
The survey also looked into issues of learning support and holiday activities.
The results showed that 80% of schools did not provide learning support for their children during the special holidays, 80% of parents did not plan any activities for their children during the special holidays, and more than 80% of parents said that they did not have enough money to cover the expenses of activities.
40% of children surveyed say they have nothing to do on special holidays
As for children, 65% of the children surveyed said they did not want to take the summer vacation earlier, more than half of the children felt helpless about the special vacation, and 30% were worried and surprised.
Another 70% of children expect to participate in outdoor activities in summer, but 60% of the children surveyed said that they only play mobile phones or computers at home during special holidays, and 40% of children said they have nothing to do, and nearly 90% of children expected to go back to school again. Attend class.
Anson, who is studying in Primary 5, said that his activities during the special holiday are mainly playing computer games and tutoring. He also revealed that frequent use of computers to study causes eyestrain.
He pointed out that the sub-test was postponed from June to August. At present, the teaching progress of the school cannot keep up with the progress of the homework. After the outbreak, I only went out once in two months, and the rest of the time I took online classes at home.
She admitted that she missed being able to go to the beach to play before the epidemic, and would also go north to visit relatives and travel.
Even though her eyesight deteriorated, the doctor advised her to go to an eye hospital for examination, which also needed to be postponed due to the raging epidemic.
High school students say that online courses affect their learning progress: there is no need to do experiments in chemistry
As for student K, who is studying in Form 4, she described that she had to make up lessons for an average of 4 hours a day during special holidays. "There is no difference between returning to school and returning to school." It is much more difficult than junior high school. For example, when I study chem (chemistry), I often have to go to the laboratory to do experiments, which I can’t even do at home.”
She revealed that she has not been out for almost three months and hopes to resume face-to-face teaching as soon as possible.
Mrs. Chen, who lives in a public housing estate in Tin Shui Wai, said that the early summer vacation has greatly increased her family expenses. "I have to cook three full meals, and I have to buy anti-epidemic supplies." In addition, she has to take care of her two children, which makes her overwhelmed. Unable to work part-time at fast food restaurants to help make ends meet, household expenses increase by about 6,000 yuan per month.
She also revealed that due to the lack of space at home and the frequent use of computers by her children, friction between parents and children increased.
Ho Yu-ying, a joint member concerned about the development rights of schoolchildren, pointed out that the early summer vacation leaves grass-roots families at a loss, and suggested that the government should provide learning and development support subsidies for grass-roots children to allow them to participate in cram schools or extracurricular activities.
(Photo by Lu Ningmin)
Promoting the provision of Learning Development Support Grant
Ho Yu-ying, a joint member concerned about the development rights of schoolchildren, pointed out that the early summer vacation leaves grass-roots families at a loss, and suggested that the government should provide learning and development support subsidies for grass-roots children to allow them to participate in cram schools or extracurricular activities.
The joint also suggested that the government provide comprehensive health checks for school children, identify grass-roots families affected by emotions and stress at an early stage, and provide medical vouchers for grass-roots children so that those in need can receive treatment as soon as possible.
In addition, the joint urges the government to formulate clear guidelines as soon as possible, consult schools and parents as soon as possible, and prepare for the resumption of physical classes.
Under the epidemic, the performance of online courses has declined greatly. More than half of the income of the grassroots pays tuition fees: if there is no food, they must make up for the difficulties encountered by the grassroots. The Rotary Club provides emergency food to 600 grassroots families to support the epidemic | The organization promotes free video consultation for children Serving 100 places per day, medicine can be delivered to the door, grass-roots schoolchildren rely on broken folding desks, online classes, Hong Kong University volunteers recycle leftover wood, tailor-made new desks
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