On education equality, Hong Kong policymakers must do their homework

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visited one of the schools offering free after-school care for low-income families last month. After receiving positive feedback from participants, he pledged to extend the programme to benefit more families. Lee said it had helped promote family harmony, with children also reporting “positive development in both academic and social aspects”.There’s little doubt we should celebrate victories, however small, but it is equally important to examine problems comprehensively. The School-based After-School Care Service Scheme, as it is officially known, is a targeted poverty alleviation measure. It aims to help families struggling with childcare and unable to work longer hours and earn more income.In tackling poverty, this is only one of many measures that must work in concert with others. Having more time to work, with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your child is in good care and schoolwork is being attended to, no doubt alleviates the pressures many families face.But are the children given opportunities to pursue extracurricular interests under this programme? Besides helping them get their homework done, can the scheme offer them more, such as organised sports or training in the arts? The government must do more to provide the children with opportunities that poor families cannot afford.An interesting conversation happened during Lee’s visit. One child asked him whether he had ever failed to hand in a homework assignment. Lee’s response was: “I’m super diligent. I don’t think there was enough homework.”Maybe Lee didn’t have enough homework growing up. However, students today don’t need more homework. Health authorities have said they need more exercise if anything. More time and space to play and engage in sports is preferable to more homework, which would keep them sedentary for longer periods of time.Primary school pupils try padel, a hybrid of tennis and squash, with a coach in Go Park Sai Sha on March 18. Photo: Elson Li