Education

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 63 Education Preparing for the Changes in the Senior Secondary Curriculum 29 August, 2021   In April 2021, the Education Bureau (EDB) officially announced changes in the senior secondary curriculum at Secondary 4 level from the beginning of the 2021/22 school year[1]. The changes in curriculum and examination formats affect four core senior secondary subjects: Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies, now called Citizenship and Social Development (CSD). The policy aims of “Optimising the Four Senior Secondary Core Subjects” are to create time for students and cater for learner diversity.   According to the EDB, […]

Youth I.D.E.A.S. 59 Education Supporting Teachers in Facing Educational Challenges 19 April, 2021     Due to advancements in technology and social development, modes of teaching and learning have entered a new era. According to “Back to the Future of Education – Four OECD Scenarios for Schooling”, a report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)[1] in 2020, learning is no longer limited to the school environment. School can act as a learning hub, connecting with the community by making use of the development of advanced technology (such as artificial intelligence) to deliver more diversified modes of […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 55 Education Enriching Students’ Internship Experiences in the Next Normal 30 November, 2020     Internships are important for university students to gain work experience and develop their skills before transitioning from education to the workplace. During an internship, a student can learn workplace culture and gain insights about their future career planning. Universities also recognise the importance of internships; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has made internships a compulsory graduation requirement since 2005/06[1]. However, COVID-19 has severely disrupted the internship planning of students. The number of Internship vacancies has dropped and have changed to become virtual. […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 50 Education Enhancing Support for e-Learning in Schools 30 July, 2020     Hong Kong has been promoting e-Learning for 20 years. With the advancement in technology, focus of e-Learning gradually developed from hardware devices to usage in learning and teaching. By making learning more flexible and interesting, the ultimate aim of e-Learning is to develop students’ self-directed learning abilities , integrating technology into learning and achieve life-long learning[1].   E-learning is an open and flexible learning mode. Learning goals can be achieved by using different electronic tools to develop student-centric learning strategies. The HKSAR Government has […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 46 Education and Innovation Improving Financial Education for Young People 26 September, 2019     Most decisions in life need money for support. As rapid economic development and high levels of inflation continue, the financial pressure on the younger generation is only set to increase. It is essential therefore that the younger generation is better equipped with the financial capabilities and skills necessary to cope with what the future might bring.   According to the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), upon completing Secondary Education students should have the ability to: establish financial plans; develop life plans […]

Youth I.D.E.A.S. 42 Education and Innovation Increasing the Efficacy of ICT Education at Junior Secondary Level 26 May, 2019   As technology continually advances, the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) increases. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), around 14% of today’s jobs might be replaced by automation[1]. Embracing the future and enhancing students’ capabilities through an all-rounded ICT education is essential, especially at Junior Secondary Level.   Countries all around the world have been putting tremendous effort into catching up with technological advancement when reviewing the development of their school curricula; Hong Kong is […]

Youth I.D.E.A.S. 38 Education and Innovation Improving the Effectiveness of Career and Life Planning Education 30 January, 2019     According to The HKSAR Government: “Life Planning is an on-going and lifelong process for personal fulfilment…At the schooling stage, life planning education…is not merely…when they are in need of making subject or career choice”[1].   Therefore, Life Planning Education and Career Guidance (CLP education) ought to play a significant role in fostering a student’s “…self-understanding, personal planning” and “…goal setting”.   The Government announced in 2014 that mandatory CLP education in the senior secondary stage, would begin at the start […]

Youth I.D.E.A.S. 34 Education and Innovation Living with Innovative Technologies and Building a Smart City 26 September, 2018     Innovative technology (IT) is a driving force in worldwide economic development. As society continues to advance, application of IT in life is becoming more common, and of greater importance. For example, the invention of smartphone and electronic payment methods has brought huge change and increased convenience in daily life.   As ‘smart’ is increasingly replaced by ‘advanced’ in describing a society’s technological level, the term ‘Smart City’ has been used to describe ‘a city that widely applies IT in human […]

Youth I.D.E.A.S. 30 Education and Innovation Improving Liberal Studies in Senior Secondary Education 19 June, 2018     In 2009, the New Academic Structure was implemented in Hong Kong. Liberal Studies (LS) was also introduced at Secondary 4 level as one of four core subjects for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE)[1].   According to the Education Bureau’s 2015 updated Curriculum and Assessment Guide for Liberal Studies[2], the aim of Liberal Studies is to broaden student’s knowledge base and enhance their social awareness, through studying a wide range of issues. Liberal Studies also enables students to make […]

Youth I.D.E.A.S. 26 Education and Innovation STEM Education in Secondary Schools : Improving Resource Utilization 14 January, 2018     STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Education; STEM education refers to the multidisciplinary teaching of these subjects. STEM education emphasises helping students cultivate innovative mindsets, developing interests in these subjects as well as enhancing their creativity, problem-solving skills, logical thinking and capability to engage in collaboration.   Believing that STEM education can help nurture talent and maintain national competitiveness, many countries have stressed the importance of STEM education in recent years. The 2015 Trends in International Mathematics […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 24 Education and Innovation Views of Senior Secondary Students on Taking a Gap in Their Studies 31 July, 2017     In recent years, taking a gap year has become popular among secondary school leavers in western countries. It is often seen as a part of life planning. A gap year normally refers to a study break between the completion of secondary school studies and the start of tertiary studies. It involves students spending three months to one year, pursuing their personal dreams or taking part in a life experience. Recent research confirms that a gap year […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 20 Education and Innovation STEM Education in Primary Schools 28 March, 2017     Innovation and technology are increasingly important and bring challenges to economic development around the world. Various countries enthusiastically promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to incubate talent and enhance international competitiveness.   The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2015 showed that the science performance of primary school students in Hong Kong ranked 5th worldwide, lagging slightly behind Asian competitors Singapore and Korea. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) also found that the science performance of secondary […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 16 Education and Innovation Attitude of Secondary Students on Physical Education 28 November, 2016   Physical activity (PA) is good for the body and mind. It not only promotes the development of body muscles, but also helps relieve mental stress. Physical Education (PE) is one of the eight key learning areas and five basic learning experiences in the secondary school curriculum. According to the guidelines issued by the Curriculum Development Council, PE aims to teach students various sports and sports knowledge, help them build an active and healthy lifestyle, and cultivate good morals.   However, according to […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 12 Education and Innovation Young People’s Views on Continuous Learning 28 June, 2016   In this knowledge-based society, practising lifelong learning is important. In a survey entitled ‘Indicators of Youth Values 2014’, which was conducted by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, around ninety (89.4%) respondents believed lifelong learning to be necessary. Around seventy (68.1%) agreed that working and studying at the same time is challenging, revealing the fact that although young people affirm the importance of lifelong learning, in reality there are some obstacles to making continuous learning happen.   In 1998, former chief executive […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 08 Education and Innovation Do “Flipped Classrooms” Motivate Students to Learn? 29 February, 2016   According to the research report from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) released in 2012, Hong Kong students’ reading ability is ranked the first, but there are four areas with low rankings including students’ level of interest in learning, level of motivation, level of confidence and level of contribution to the lessons. This reveals that although Hong Kong students’ individual academic ability is strong, there is still a lack of learning motivation, creativity and analytic ability.   Self-directed […]

  Youth I.D.E.A.S. 04 Education and Innovation Encouraging Young People to Participate in Innovation and Technology Development 29 October, 2015     Innovation and technology are driving forces that foster economic development and are crucial factors in enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness. In recent decades, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has put much effort into promoting the development of innovation and technology in different areas, including by investing in related infrastructure, providing financial support and nurturing talent. However, the performance of innovation and technology in Hong Kong is still weak in comparison to other cities or […]