Latest news with #ChristineChoi
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must act to protect youth from digital overload
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification In June, Secretary for Education Christine Choi pointed to the 'bad impact' of the online world as a key driver of Hong Kong's youth mental health crisis. I appreciate her emphasis on a whole-school approach – but we must take the next step. Awareness is not enough. We need boundaries. As co-founder of Just Feel, a non-profit working with primary schools to support emotional well-being, I witness the impact of digital overstimulation daily: students struggling with sleep, focus, anxiety and social connection. Phones, games and social media are reshaping childhood – often in harmful ways. This isn't just a parenting issue; it's a policy issue. Mainland China has limited online gaming for minors. Australia is banning phones in schools and restricting social media for under-16s. Hong Kong should act now. Science supports this. Angela Duckworth's research has shown that phones impair student focus. Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation, links rising anxiety to screen-based childhoods. Reading their work, I saw myself. Even I struggle with unconscious phone use. But I have started putting my phone in my backpack instead of on my desk, and I already feel more present and less distracted.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong students told to avoid ordering takeaway food on mainland China trips
Students from Hong Kong should refrain from ordering food and drinks through delivery platforms during trips to mainland China in the new academic year, in light of reports that more than 100 pupils taking part in such tours developed gastroenteritis symptoms, according to a new official guide. Students were also advised not to go to the gym or use recreational facilities in hotels to ensure they have sufficient rest the following day, according to education authorities. The Education Bureau recently uploaded a document for schools in a 'frequently asked questions' format for such trips in the new academic year. Trips to the mainland are mandatory for a new core subject for senior secondary school students. The subject was implemented in September 2021 after the city's social unrest in 2019, to boost youngsters' understanding of mainland China and patriotism. More than 140,000 students joined the trip from 2022, spending between two and five days on these excursions. At least ten secondary schools reported that more than 100 students joining past trips had developed gastroenteritis symptoms, sparking concerns over food hygiene on the mainland, with Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin attributing it to the humid weather leading to widespread bacteria. In the new document, the bureau said students should not buy food from the platforms as the trip already covered their meal arrangements.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong students warned against ordering takeaway food during mainland trips
Students from Hong Kong should refrain from ordering food and drinks through delivery platforms during trips to mainland China in the new academic year, in light of reports that more than 100 pupils taking part in such tours developed gastroenteritis symptoms, according to a new official guide. Students were also advised not to go to the gym or use recreational facilities in hotels to ensure they have sufficient rest the following day, according to education authorities. The Education Bureau recently uploaded a document for schools in a 'frequently asked questions' format for such trips in the new academic year. Trips to the mainland are mandatory for a new core subject for senior secondary school students. The subject was implemented in September 2021 after the city's social unrest in 2019, to boost youngsters' understanding of mainland China and patriotism. More than 140,000 students joined the trip from 2022, spending between two and five days on these excursions. At least ten secondary schools reported that more than 100 students joining past trips had developed gastroenteritis symptoms, sparking concerns over food hygiene on the mainland, with Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin attributing it to the humid weather leading to widespread bacteria. In the new document, the bureau said students should not buy food from the platforms as the trip already covered their meal arrangements.
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Quality counts as Hong Kong seeks to lure more international students
With no fewer than five universities ranked among the world's top 100, the city is definitely well positioned to nurture the ' Study in Hong Kong ' brand. Hong Kong's proximity to mainland China and long-established overseas links have further reinforced its status as an international education hub. The priority is to cast the net wider to attract the best and brightest from the mainland and overseas to work and study here. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin revealed that applications from non-local students had increased significantly this year, with the numbers almost doubling in some institutions. The city also tapped the opportunities arising from the United States' recent policy changes for international students; four local institutions made at least 36 offers to those affected. This outcome is encouraging. There is room to do more. There were 17,161 non-local students at public universities in 2024-25. This accounts for about 23 per cent of local student places, still short of the 40 per cent allowed. Noting that the quota is still not fully utilised and that some institutions are not yet ready for increasing their intake in terms of staffing and facilities, Choi said she believed that public universities could enrol more quality overseas students to ensure greater diversity on campuses in future. She said the universities had become more mindful of the number of overseas students compared with those from the mainland, Taiwan and Macau, in response to concerns that mainlanders accounted for more than 70 per cent of the non-local intake. But she stressed that picking the best was still the priority and that this would not be sacrificed to ensure greater diversity. Being an international education hub means the city should aim to attract the top students from different countries. Local universities should come up with more quality and up-to-date programmes, such as tech-related majors, to attract talent from around the world.
RTHK
04-07-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
Teachers get their dues for outstanding performances
Teachers get their dues for outstanding performances Some teachers with their awards for teaching excellence. Photo: RTHK The government honoured outstanding educators on Friday during its annual teaching awards presentation ceremony, commending exemplary teaching practices that foster a culture of excellence within the profession. This year, the awards committee evaluated more than 200 nominations across five distinct categories, namely key learning area in Chinese language and mathematics education along with values education, and two new ones in awards for budding teachers and education innovation. Chief Executive John Lee presented the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence to 17 educators, while Secretary for Education Christine Choi awarded certificates of merit to 12 teachers. Among the recipients was Lam Fong-sang from King's College Old Boys' Association Primary School, who received the Award for Budding Teachers. Lam said he was deeply honoured to have received the award and spoke of his approach to innovative teaching. "In the classroom, I teach maths and use AI and blended in learning to create pre-lesson videos," he said. "This allows students to make the most of their time learning both before and after class. "This recognition affirms our efforts to promote the holistic development of students both inside and outside the classroom. "I believe that all students have their unique potential and talents, and as teachers, we should help them cultivate their strengths." Another award winner, Lo Sau-ling from Holy Cross Lutheran School, received the values education award for her role in a team that designed an integrated curriculum. The curriculum weaves together moral and national education and other value aspects across various subjects. "For instance, in a fourth-grade Chinese language class... the teacher may want to explain the term 'lying flat,' " she said. "During the discussion, the teacher posed an important question: if Chinese farmers adopted a 'lying flat' attitude and did nothing – didn't plant rice or grow other things – what do you think would happen to the country?" she said. "This leads to discussions about food security. "Students can discuss what would happen if farmers or workers adopted a 'lying flat' attitude and did nothing. This could also extend to issues of social security." Cheung Ping-kit from Hong Kong Taoist Association The Yuen Yuen Institute No 3 Secondary School won the Chinese language education key learning area award for his contributions to a team that developed a specialised Chinese language programme tailored to support non-Chinese speaking students. Addressing the ceremony, the chief executive said he hopes the awards would continue to unite more outstanding teachers, enhance their professional image and strengthen respect for teachers. Lee outlined three key expectations for award-winning educators: cultivate a strong sense of national identity and love for Hong Kong in students; serve as well-rounded role models; and embrace innovation and technology in developing new educational models.
