A Closed Book
Earlier this year, the Ombudsman called the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to task for throwing away hundreds of thousands of books and other printed items from public libraries, instead of donating them. With ever increasing purchases and falling lending rates, is it time to rethink how our public libraries are stocked and run?
Accommodating Anchor Children
While some mainland parents with Hong Kong-born children - also known as anchor children - have their kids make the lengthy cross-boundary commute to schools in Hong Kong, others choose to have their kids live here. Varsity takes a look at private fostering services catering to anchor children and agencies that specialise in getting student visas as a pretext for parents to look after their anchor children in Hong Kong.
When No One Calls it Rape
Current Hong Kong law dictates that men cannot be raped and Hong Kong society tends to think men cannot be victims of sexual abuse. The Law Reform Commission has published proposals to introduce a gender neutral approach to rape and other non-consensual sex offences, but so far there's been little progress on legislation.
Special Needs Children Await Adoption
Most of the children waiting to be adopted in Hong Kong are children with special needs, but few local families seem to be willing to take on the responsibilities of caring for a child with disabilities.
K-Wave on Campus
The number of South Korean students in Hong Kong's universities has more than doubled in the past five years. Varsity learns that rankings, Hong Kong popular culture and the China factor are among the draws bringing them to Hong Kong's campuses.
Best of Both Worlds?
More and more local families are sending their children to international schools in Hong Kong. Some do it to escape the high-pressure test culture of local schools, others for the English learning environment. But what are the pros and cons of this choice and what does the future look like for these students?
Children come first?
Proposed amendments to current family law seek to encourage divorced couples to co-parent. While it might be good for the children to keep both parents in their lives, victims of domestic violence fear their abuse will continue under co-parenting provisions.
School’s not for everyone
More an more young people are struggling in Hong Kong's education system and some drop out of secondary school without taking their public exams. They may try to seek different paths, but it's hard in a society that still values conventional qualifications.
The STEM Paradox
The Hong Kong government is injecting a load of money to promote STEM education, but students seem to be less interested in studying science. Varsity explores the reasons behind.
At College with Learning Disabilities
More SEN students are pursuing tertiary level education, but the government has no defined policy on integrated education in these institutions. What support do these students need?
