Teaching on the rooftop

By Wingki Kwok

Going back to the ’50s, most buildings were seven storeys in Hong Kong. Many of them had a primary school, not in the building, but on the roof. Wong Chak Kwong, 79, was a roof primary school teacher at that time.

Born in Foshan in mainland China, he came to Hong Kong at 13 and received two years of high school education.

Mr. Wong returned to his homeland afterwards and finally settled in Hong Kong when he was 26.

He could hardly find a job and finally got into a small advertising agency in Sham Shui Po.

He loved art and thought it would be his lifelong career, but it was not.

“The principal of a primary school in Shek Kip Mei came to our ad agency and asked for a part-time art teacher.”

To earn more income, he accepted the part-time job.

Said Mr. Wong: “Every day I ran from Sham Shui Po to Shek Kip Mei after lunch. This is probably why I always have stomach aches now.

When he was 28, he met his benefactor — a Canadian principal of a roof primary school.

The principal invited Mr. Wong to teach art in Kwong Oi Primary School.

The school was launched by a missionary organisation. It was located on the roof of a building in Wong Tai Sin .

“The school was not well facilitated as they had no government subsidies,” Mr. Wong said.

As he loves children very much, he left the ad agency to become a full-time teacher in mathematics, Chinese, physical education and art.

Said he: “The standard salary in that school was $120 per month.

“The principal was nice enough to pay me $130, although government school teachers may have received up to $700.”

The roof was densely used. There were altogether six classrooms, with 40 students in each.

Classrooms were located on two sides with a playground in the centre.

There were about 10 teachers in one school.

Said he: “We all have to dress formally, with a tie and suit, despite the low salaries.”

His relationship with students was satisfactory. They had two to three picnics in the New Territories each year.

“And I was the students’ most favourite teacher, even though I don’t know why.

“But I know why I am the best teacher in parents’ eyes,” said he. At that time students had to pay a monthly tuition fee of $3.

Said he: “In my class, I would pay for those who had good academic results as an encouragement.

“Teachers were also nice to each other even though we seldom had any social activities because we didn’t earn much money.

“We had proper teaching tools, but their quality was poor.”

One of the biggest constraints was the lack of photocopying machines. They had to write on a board and print exam papers one by one with ink.

“We couldn’t play ballgames on the roof. Students had to go to another playground for physical education classes.”

As more government schools were built, fewer students attended roof primary schools and school hours were extended from half day to a whole day.

Mr. Wong said many teachers thought that teaching art was easy, but it was not.

“Since there was no special guide for teachers, student workloads depended on the teachers’ guidance and demands.

“I gave my students quite a lot of homework. Every day I collected a stack of homework books and worked all night.”

Later, he was sent to Grantham College of Education to study art.

The Canadian principal paid the tuition fee for him.

Even after he acquired the qualifications to teach in a government school, he did not leave the “roof school”.

“First, the principal was my benefactor. I can’t leave. Besides, it was not easy to enter a government school,” said he.

He finally left when asked by a friend to work for his ad agency. He was 35 then.

Looking back on his 20s, he said he was thankful to the Canadian principal who taught him about kindness and modesty.

Mr. Wong said he was not ambitious and he never insisted on a bright future.

Said he: “My qualifications were not good and many things were out of control.

“At that time, most of the people went to work when they were very young and couldn’t receive high education.

“Many youngsters can study and do what they want now; they should plan their future well.

“I am glad that I could start teaching in my late 20s. I still had the chance to enjoy myself.”

The history of roof primary schools today is fading.

Seven-storey buildings are being torn down for redevelopment.

Yet, his sweet memories of the rooftop setting are nicely preserved in his album.

“Every time I look at them, lots of memories flash through my mind.”

He said some students still regularly visit him with their children.