Students should
have more say

Hong Kong students have little say in education.

Neither do university students have the chance to participate in the selection of the new vice-chancellors in their own institutes, nor can secondary or primary students channel their opinions in the direction of education reform.

Some may argue that such important decisions should not be left in the hands of students. They are too young and they do not know what is good for them. Education is also complicated. Let the experts deal with it.

If that is true, all decisions should be made only by scholars and experts, shouldn’t they? As long as they care about the good of students, decisions made using their professional knowledge, experience and vision should be good for students, right?

Perhaps. Though most decision makers care about students, some do not. Education may simply be their means to achieve different ends. It may be to protect their political interests. It may be to produce a workforce for capitalists. It may be to boost Hong Kong’s economy. The good of students may not necessarily be their primary interest.

Unfortunately, only the ones with political power can make decisions. Students, obviously without strong political support, can merely watch from the spectators’ seats.

More importantly, what the experts think is good for students, whether whole-heartedly or not, may not be so.

“Getting a well-paid job” is the rallying cry of students in Hong Kong. Seemingly, this is also the goal of local education. Universities, faculties and departments are competing among each other in terms of graduate employment rates and incomes. The direction of education reform for primary and secondary students, as mentioned in the Reform Proposal for the Education System released by the Education Commission, is “to meet the requirements. . . at the workplace.”

So some subjects, like Chinese, English and mathematics are compulsory for all students because they are useful in the workplace. Students must follow the syllabus and try their very best in these “practical” subjects or they will be labeled as losers. Their talents in other areas like art, music and sports may not be well developed under the pressure of getting good grades in compulsory subjects. They may not feel interested in learning, or even feel distressed while struggling for more A’s in subjects they do not like at all.

Is that really good for all students?

After all, we are not saying that students should be the ones totally in charge of education. We just want students to have more say. Students’ feelings and opinions should be considered and respected.

Education should be for students, not for experts and officials who make plans in the comfort of their air-conditioned offices.

 

Iris Cheng

Editor-in-chief

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