Hong Kong must care for its teachers before it's too late
When a tragedy happens, we look up from our phones, shake our heads and wonder how it came to this. Then, often too quickly, we scroll on. However, some events refuse to be dismissed so easily.
The recent incident in which a teacher died after falling from the rooftop at a primary school in Sai Kung has sent a wave of sorrow and discomfort through
Hong Kong's education community . It's a wake-up call we can't afford to ignore.
Teaching has always been more than a job. It's the unseen engine of society, shaping the future, one child at a time. But what happens when the engine begins to break down? We expect teachers
to be counsellors , content creators, administrators, career advisers, event planners and, occasionally, referees. And yet, for all the roles they juggle, who is really looking out for them?
It's tempting to see such tragedies as isolated or unexplainable, but that would be a mistake. The pressures our teachers face are very real and mounting. The job insecurity brought on by
declining student enrolment and
potential school closures is no longer just a bureaucratic issue; it's a source of daily anxiety.
In schools under pressure to 'perform' and recruit students, educators – especially in under-enrolled schools – are expected to wear many hats. Teachers have described it as being asked to teach all day, then spend your evenings marketing the school as if your livelihood depends on it. In many cases, it does.
03:10
Overworked to death: Japanese teachers battle for change as several die from exhaustion
Overworked to death: Japanese teachers battle for change as several die from exhaustion
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Forward
7 minutes ago
- Japan Forward
World Takes Notice of Japan's Volunteer-led Probation Model
このページを 日本語 で読む This is an important opportunity to share Japan's unique volunteer probation officer (Hogoshi) system with the world. In May, the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, meeting in Vienna, adopted international standard guidelines for reducing reoffending drafted at Japan's initiative. They are modeled on Japan's own Hogoshi-based system. For UN member states, the standard guidelines offer basic guidance when formulating legislative and administrative policies. They are expected to be officially adopted by the UN General Assembly by the end of 2025. As a result, the system and philosophy of the Hogoshi probation officers will be widely shared around the world. This development is evidence of the international recognition given to Japan's parole system. Japanese ministries should take the opportunity to build on this success and spread the Hogoshi system message in Japan and abroad. The impetus for the proposed standard came from the UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in Kyoto in March 2021. High rates of recidivism have become a common issue for many countries. As a result, attention has been drawn to Japan's system of public-private collaboration. Through the Hogoshi system, offenders released from prisons and juvenile detention centers are supported in their reintegration into society. In particular, participating countries highly praised Japan's Hogoshi probation officers — community volunteers who help former prisoners on parole find jobs. These volunteers also provide advice concerning their daily lives. Responding to this outpouring of interest, the Japanese government proposed the creation of guidelines for reducing reoffending. Japan also acted as a coordinator for opinions from various countries. Systems modeled on the Hogoshi volunteer probation officer system have already been introduced in the Philippines and Kenya. Beyond that, the Ministry of Justice plans to use their adoption as an opportunity to export the system to other countries. The Minister of Justice receives the final report from the Chairman of the Expert Review Committee for the Establishment of a Sustainable Probation Officer System. October 3, 2024, at the Ministry of Justice. Although exporting the system is certainly a worthwhile idea, some issues need to be resolved first. Here in Japan, not only are the Hogoshi volunteers aging, but there are not enough volunteers. As of January 2025, there were 46,000 Hogoshi, far below the full staffing level of 52,500. Furthermore, their average age was above 65, with more than 40% over 70. In 2024, a Ministry of Justice-led panel of experts issued a report on how to make the Hogoshi volunteer probation officer system sustainable. Among its recommendations was the introduction of a public recruitment system on a trial basis. That contrasts with the current Hogoshi hiring system, which relies on personal connections among probation officers. The report also calls for abolishing the upper age limit for new volunteers. In principle, those wishing to become a Hogoshi must be 66 years old or younger. However, the report's proposal fails to address the introduction of a remuneration system, which has been a focus of attention. The Ministry of Justice has stated that it will review the system every five years. Nonetheless, there is an urgent need to review these measures and secure human resources now. We hope that the UN guidelines will provide an opportunity to raise morale among Hogoshi and that the system will become a global model in both name and reality. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
NZ Herald
15 minutes ago
- NZ Herald
Do you see craters or bumps on the Moon's surface?
A picture of the Moon's south pole was taken in May by Resilience, a robotic lander operated by the Japanese company Ispace that probably crashed on the lunar surface last week. Some people see bumps, but others see craters. What you're seeing is known as the crater illusion, or sometimes
Business Recorder
18 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
Dollar dips after jobs-fueled rally
NEW YORK: The US dollar slipped against most major currencies on Monday, as optimism over a better-than-expected US employment report was offset by caution ahead of pivotal US-China trade talks set to take place later in the day. Top officials from both countries were in London for a meeting to address disagreements around a preliminary agreement struck last month in Geneva, which had briefly cooled tensions between the world's two largest economies. The talks come at a crucial time for both sides, with China grappling with deflation and trade uncertainty dampening sentiment among US businesses and consumers, prompting investors to reassess the dollar's safe-haven status. Data showed China's export growth slowed to a three-month low in May as US tariffs slammed shipments, while factory-gate deflation saw its worst level in two years. Customs data showed that China's exports to the US plunged 34.5% year-on-year in May in value terms, the sharpest drop since February 2020, when the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic upended global trade. The dollar was down about 0.2% against the Japanese currency at 144.635 yen in late morning trading after two consecutive weeks of gains. Japan is considering buying back some super-long government bonds issued in the past at low interest rates, two sources with direct knowledge of the plan said on Monday, underscoring its focus on reining in any abrupt rises in bond yields. The euro, meanwhile, was up slightly against the greenback at $1.1404, as markets continued to price in the European Central Bank's monetary policy outlook issued last week, in which it indicated it may be close to ending its easing cycle. Sterling also rose versus the greenback, adding 0.3% to $1.3558. 'The dollar is struggling to find clear direction following last week's data points and the situation is looking more like the second half of the year the Fed will need to get dovish and help the financial environment,' said Juan Perez, director of trading at Monex USA in Washington. 'Ultimately, if the US is going to be struggling, there is no clear reason to have any long-term faith in the dollar.' Elsewhere, China's offshore yuan was last at 7.18 per dollar, little changed on the day. 'How the (US-China) trade talks go definitely is going to be critical for overall sentiment,' said Kit Juckes, chief FX strategist at Societe Generale. He said Asia-Pacific currencies including the Japanese yen and Australian and New Zealand dollars would likely see the biggest reaction to headlines from the talks. New Zealand's dollar rose 0.5% to US$0.6045, while the Australian dollar was last up 0.3% at US$0.6515 in light volumes as markets were closed for a public holiday. Also on the trade front was a report that said Japan's chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is planning a sixth round of talks in Washington. An inflation report out of the US for May will be in the spotlight later in the week as investors and Federal Reserve policymakers look for evidence on the damage trade restrictive policies have had on the economy. Fed officials have signalled that they are in no rush to cut interest rates and signs of economic resilience will likely cement their stance. Interest rate futures indicate that investors are anticipating the central bank may cut borrowing costs by 25 basis points, with the earliest move expected in October this year, according to data compiled by LSEG. 'May is the first month where the impact of Trump's 10% universal tariff on imports ex-USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) is expected to show. The Fed will want a few months of inflation data in order to judge the tariff impact and most importantly, its persistence,' analysts at ANZ Bank said.
