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South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: The Philippines faces an educational crisis as literacy rates decline
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Ellisha Yao, 17, German Swiss International School Ellisha Yao attends German Swiss International School. Photo: Handout The Philippines is facing an educational crisis marked by declining literacy rates and limited access to education. This functional illiteracy perpetuates structural poverty and inflicts long-term socio-economic damage. Individuals with low literacy skills often struggle with reading, writing and comprehension, which creates challenges in meeting workplace demands. As a result, they become confined to low-skilled jobs, lacking opportunities for career advancement. When they become parents, economic necessity often drives them to prioritise immediate household income, leading them to withdraw their children from school to take on jobs such as manual labour. This creates a cycle of intergenerational poverty that stifles economic growth. Gender and rural-urban disparities exacerbate the issue: girls are disproportionately afforded fewer educational opportunities in favour of male 'breadwinners,' while rural areas suffer from reduced productivity and investment. Inadequate literacy impedes informed decision-making in various aspects of life. Political participation is hindered as individuals struggle to understand their civil rights. Families also lack access to vital information concerning hygiene and nutrition, making them more susceptible to disease outbreaks. The Philippines must implement educational reforms, including improvements to the curriculum that emphasise critical thinking and essential skills. Resources should be tailored to support marginalised and rural citizens, with scholarships and subsidies for the most disadvantaged. Expanding access to technical and vocational education and aligning skills training with labour market demands will enhance the employability of these individuals. Read up on this issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe Donald Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a video alleging a 'genocide' against white South African farmers. Photo: AP US President Donald Trump ambushed his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, by playing him a video that he claimed proved genocide was being committed against white people. The extraordinary stunt turned the usually sober diplomatic setting of the Oval Office into a stage for Trump's view that white South African farmers are being forced off their land and killed. 'You do allow them to take land, and then when they take the land, they kill the white farmer, and when they kill the white farmer, nothing happens to them,' Trump said. Trump also showed news clippings that he alleged supported his claims – although one featured a photo from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last month, Trump's administration granted refugee status to more than 50 white Afrikaners, even though it has effectively stopped taking asylum seekers from the rest of the world. Ramaphosa denied that his country confiscates land from white farmers under a land expropriation law signed in January that aims to redress the historical inequalities of apartheid rule. He also insisted that most victims of South Africa's notoriously high crime rate are black. The visit by the South African leader had been billed as a chance to repair relations following unfounded genocide claims by Trump and his billionaire, South African-born ally, Elon Musk. 'We are essentially here to reset the relationship between the United States and South Africa,' Ramaphosa said. But Ramaphosa was left repeatedly trying to speak as the video played, even as Trump drowned him out. The South African leader later attempted to put a brave face on the meeting, stating it was a 'great success' and that he still expected Trump to attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg in November. He also said he did not think Trump fully believes there's a genocide against whites despite the video. 'In the end, I mean, I do believe that there is this doubt and disbelief in his head about all this,' Ramaphosa told reporters. Staff writers Read and observe What are your thoughts on Trump's claims? How do you view Ramaphosa's response? What implications do Trump's accusations have for the relationship between the US and South Africa?
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
‘Hesitant' Hongkongers worry Trump has shattered dreams of studying in US
A year ago, 13-year-old Sophia wanted to leave Hong Kong to study in the US, which is home to many renowned universities and boarding schools. With her eyes on east coast boarding schools, she had planned to apply for the 2025-26 academic year. '[US] boarding schools ... foster open discussion instead of lectures and encourage even introverted students like me to be braver in expressing themselves,' the German Swiss International School student said. 'I could explore new opportunities beyond academics, whether in sports, music or other extracurriculars, which is difficult in Hong Kong, where the focus is mainly on academics.' But to her dismay, this dream has crumbled. 'My plans changed due to growing concerns about US visa and immigration policies under the Trump administration,' said Sophia, who only gave her first name. 'I saw lots of news about student visas getting revoked. This made me question the long-term stability of staying in the US without citizenship.' She is just one of the thousands weighing the risks of studying in the United States following the election of President Donald Trump. Hong Kong sees 15% drop in students seeking overseas education since 2012 'Unsettling' The US has long been the most popular destination for international students, with around 1.1 million receiving tuition in the country last year. But recently, Washington has been revoking visas and threatening students with deportation. At least 1,024 students from 160 universities have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March, according to the Associated Press. Many have said they have not committed a deportable offence. A large number of those who lost their legal status are from China and India. These two countries make up more than half of the international student population at US universities. In Hong Kong, the US was already becoming less popular as a study destination. The 2023-24 academic year marked a record low for Hongkongers pursuing undergraduate degrees in the country, with just 2,762 making the move, according to a survey. Sophia is now among those deciding against going to the US. She will instead stay in Hong Kong to finish secondary school. 'My parents and I agreed that there would be a possibility of not being able to graduate with a high school diploma. The thought of being suddenly uprooted from school, separated from friends and unable to complete my education, was unsettling,' she said. 'It was a difficult decision given that this was my dream and goal for three years.' Sophia said that the constant negative news was likely to have made her feel 'unsafe and anxious' if she went to the US. She will consider attending university in the country in 2029 'if the immigration and visa policies improve'. Hongkongers are reconsidering studying in America because of President Donald Trump's policies. Photo: Reuters Cautious hope Education consultants have said that the visa measures have had little impact on the decisions of their clients. For Hongkonger Max*, he has already achieved his goal of being accepted into a US university. 'I have always dreamed of going to a US university because of its flexible liberal arts system,' he said. Max, who preferred to keep the name of the east coast university private, will start later this year. 'This university had a very collaborative and friendly community, and I liked that the course was very flexible, allowing me to study a range of subjects which I enjoyed,' said Max, 18, who has already received his visa. He said he felt comfortable with his decision, even if he and his parents were 'a little worried'. 'I believe the policies have only targeted a small proportion of students,' he said. He remains keen to make the move. 'I think it will be an amazing experience in and out of the classroom,' he said. More than 1,000 international students in the US have had visas or legal status revoked Another Hongkonger, David*, said attending a US university was 'a dream' that was inspired by his family. 'My parents put a lot of emphasis on how amazing the environment is [in the US] and how much you can learn from American society,' said the 16-year-old, who attends a school in Hong Kong that follows the American system. David's sister and parents all went to university in the US, making it a natural path for him. He is already looking to apply to 'a lot of the top colleges in the US' for enrolment in 2026. But he admitted that the recent news had taken a 'little bit of a toll on my mind'. He has been trying to stay informed about the latest developments and said he was starting to feel 'concerned' and 'hesitant'. David worries that all his hard work to get into a good university will go to waste. 'It feels like a lot of that is in jeopardy and at stake, especially as an international student,' he said. David, who will graduate from secondary school in 2026, said he was 'still definitely going to apply' as the US had always been his 'dream place' to study and work. But now he was likely to look at other options too. '[Recent events] have definitely made me consider the UK a lot more,' he said. * Name changed at interviewees' request. Stop and think: What reasons are behind the decline in Hongkongers' interest in studying in the US? Why this story matters: Many young Hongkongers have ambitions to attend universities in the US. But because of the country's current policies, some may no longer feel safe to do so and may decide to attend local institutions or others overseas or in mainland China.
South China Morning Post
06-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: After a fatal road accident in Malaysia, was this TikTok apology sincere?
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Tiffany Taw, 14, German Swiss International School Tiffany Taw attends German Swiss International School. Photo: Handout On March 6, an 18-year-old driver in Malaysia without a valid licence killed three teenage motorcyclists in a traffic accident. The driver's sister, Nur Athirah Najwa, posted a video online admitting her brother's involvement but pleaded that the public pray for his recovery instead of blaming him. She did not acknowledge the deaths caused by the crash. This sparked criticism of the seeming lack of empathy for the families of those who died. I agree with the public. Nur Athirah completely disregarded the innocent victims who lost their lives as well as their grieving families who are going through an extremely difficult time. While I understand her concern for her brother, it was wrong to focus solely on his condition when families are mourning the deaths of their loved ones. Additionally, regardless of intent, her brother was still the culprit of the accident; he should bear at least some responsibility for this tragic event. While his sister had nothing to do with the incident, she should have expressed her condolences to the victims' families. Following the outrage, Nur Athirah uploaded another video apologising for her insensitivity. Many accused her of using this video to pacify the customers of her father's business. This reflects a broader issue that is becoming a trend on social media. Celebrities these days apologise after making mistakes – such as insensitive comments – simply to appease followers and fans and fix their reputation. In reality, a verbal or written apology on its own is not enough to resolve problems. In this case, a Facebook user wrote, 'Doing a [TikTok] live just to apologise will not bring back the dead'. On the other hand, the public may have been too critical of her apology. There was no proof of insincerity or that she was only appeasing her father's customers. Read up on the issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' – set in 16th century Japan and focusing on real-life black samurai Yasuke – is the latest entry in the hugely popular video game series. Image: Ubisoft French video game developer Ubisoft is receiving complaints in Japan for what critics claim are historical inaccuracies and the desecration of a Shinto shrine. Assassin's Creed Shadows is the first game in the series to be set in Japan. It takes place during the 15th and 16th centuries and allows users to play as a warrior called Yasuke, a real-life historical figure known in pop culture as the first Black samurai. However, there is little surviving historical documentation of Yasuke's life, including whether he was considered a samurai. He is believed to have arrived in Japan from Mozambique with Portuguese priests around 1580 and later served Oda Nobunaga, a daimyo (feudal lord) known as a unifier of Japan. Critics of the game argue that there is no evidence that Yasuke was a samurai warrior. They say a foreigner should not be a protagonist in a game about Japanese history. Mathew Thompson, an associate professor of premodern Japanese literature at Tokyo's Sophia University, said he believed the people offended by the game had fixed views. 'There are many groups in Japan that have [set] views of certain historical topics, and this pushes their buttons,' he said. 'These groups tend to take a conservative or even nationalistic approach to history,' he explained, adding that a game which took liberties with Japan's past was bound to provoke their anger. The developers have also been criticised for showing a real 1,400-year-old Shinto shrine in the game without contacting its caretakers. Messages on social media called the depiction 'offensive' to the Shinto religion. 'If you borrow Japanese culture and history for business, you need to respect it,' a comment on the Japanese newspaper Sankei's website read. 'I think any country would find it insulting to see their temples being destroyed.' Staff writers Research and respond Do you think the video game developers deserved this backlash? Why or why not? How should the developers respond to the public's comments?
South China Morning Post
03-03-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Feature of the Week: Anna and Mira's Lamma Island beach clean-up
Do you have something to share? Send us your letters using this form In December, the Grade Six students from German Swiss International School went to Lamma Island to clean up the beach with Hong Kong-based NGO Plastic Free Seas. We started by putting all the plastic from the beach into garbage bags. We focused mainly on disposable cutlery and straws because Plastic Free Seas wanted to see if their usage decreases after being banned in Hong Kong. Therefore, we separated all the disposable cutlery into one basket and the straws into another one. We also collected plastic bottles and cans separately to check their origin. Ultimately, we collected 74kg of rubbish, from toothbrushes to bigger things like barrels and pallets, and 193 bottles from all over Asia. Afterwards, we put all the rubbish in one spot near the beach so the government could easily collect it. Overall, it was a lovely experience to learn about plastic pollution and how to protect our environment. Also, it was great to take action and help the planet.
