Direct Subsidy Scheme schools (DSS) - Can they challenge the international schools & ESF?

[East_coast]

DSS schools now offer a English medium IB diploma and get very good results but should these government run schools with top-up fees offer a significant number of free places so the underprivileged can also have a fair chance to the best possible education?

Should schools that get freebies from the society also offer something back back to make society more equitable?

Also should summer holidays be cut from the (excessive?) 6 weeks to a period where the loss in learning from the less able kids is less pronounced or are great long holidays for teachers more important?

Two questions but really based around what can be done to make education offer better opportunities for kids to excel at their level.

[carang]

NO. do NOT cut summer holidays! they should be 8 weeks, not 6.... sending kids to school every day for a 1/2 day is a waste of time and expense. would be far better off to make the last month of school all full day and finish 2 weeks earlier.

and summer holidays are NOT all about teachers getting long breaks. kids need a break, too. they need to be kids... not just sitting in a desk all day being drilled in the 3 r's....

[East_coast]

and summer holidays are NOT all about teachers getting long breaks. kids need a break, too. they need to be kids... not just sitting in a desk all day being drilled in the 3 r's....

Everyone likes a holiday and most probably say they 'need' it but

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_learning_loss

I would seem kids especially from poorer backgrounds need shorter summer holidays noy longer. Taking archaic holidays off a government worker is never going to be popular with them.

Head teachers in the UK are discussing it - http://www.bbc.com/news/education-27260436

[Mat]

Everyone likes a holiday and most probably say they 'need' it but

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_learning_loss

I would seem kids especially from poorer backgrounds need shorter summer holidays noy longer. Taking archaic holidays off a government worker is never going to be popular with them.

Head teachers in the UK are discussing it - http://www.bbc.com/news/education-27260436

6 weeks holidays is already low, very low. So no, no need to cut down holidays.
We work long enough in our lives (and for what?), let kids be kids and have 6 weeks holidays (or more).


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[closedcasket]

DSS schools now offer a English medium IB diploma and get very good results but should these government run schools with top-up fees offer a significant number of free places so the underprivileged can also have a fair chance to the best possible education?

Should schools that get freebies from the society also offer something back back to make society more equitable?

Also should summer holidays be cut from the (excessive?) 6 weeks to a period where the loss in learning from the less able kids is less pronounced or are great long holidays for teachers more important?

Two questions but really based around what can be done to make education offer better opportunities for kids to excel at their level.

I don't understand, aren't all kids entitled to free education in Hong Kong? Are you saying local schools are inferior to other schools in HK?

Where is HC and the boys?

[closedcasket]

NO. do NOT cut summer holidays! they should be 8 weeks, not 6.... sending kids to school every day for a 1/2 day is a waste of time and expense. would be far better off to make the last month of school all full day and finish 2 weeks earlier.

and summer holidays are NOT all about teachers getting long breaks. kids need a break, too. they need to be kids... not just sitting in a desk all day being drilled in the 3 r's....

Well said. The last thing Hong Kong kids need is MORE school. School already takes up far too much of their childhood as it is.

I enjoyed a full 3 months break every year as a kid... some of the best memories camping, fishing, hiking and mort of all spending time with friends & family.

[carang]

i think many people in hk forget that often a child learns SO MUCH MORE out in the world instead of sitting behind a desk.

sorry, East Coast, but you are wayyyyyy off on this one!

[East_coast]

i think many people in hk forget that often a child learns SO MUCH MORE out in the world instead of sitting behind a desk.

sorry, East Coast, but you are wayyyyyy off on this one!

Yes you are probably correct. Expecting middle class teachers to loose long holidays so poor kids don't fall behind is a little of a big ask....

[kimwy66]

It is nothing to do with teachers losing their holidays, it is about the children having time to be kids. Children still learn outside the classroom, learning that is just as valuable as knowing their times tables by heart.

If you feel that poor children in Hong Kong would be better off spending their summer holidays in a classroom, then why don't you look at setting up a charity to raise money for staff and premises to provide extra classes.

Or you could lobby the government to provide day camps where they cold experience some of the joy of a holiday here in Hong Kong - trips to the beach, the wetlands, swimming pools. These are just as important for children, a chance to be with other children in a social setting, learning, talking, being kids.

The issue of poor children not doing well is not because of summer holidays, it is because they are poor. So instead of seeking schemes like no summer holidays that will never gain traction, promote giving in the well-off sectors of society. Get Deborah in her Pink Rolls Royce to do something useful instead of being picture perfect. Find Hong Kong's Bill Gates and get him to make his mission the eradication of the poor/rich education gap.

[East_coast]

It is nothing to do with teachers losing their holidays

The most influential group against changing holidays and getting away from the long summer break is teachers.

Children still learn outside the classroom, learning that is just as valuable as knowing their times tables by heart.

Absolutely and getting away from a single long summer holiday when poor kids tend to drift more than middle class kids who generally have access to 'better' activities to stimulate social and life skills is probably key element of why the long summer break is also not good

The issue of poor children not doing well is not because of summer holidays, it is because they are poor.

It is simpler to remove the issue of summer learning loss rather than make everyone rich.

Or you could lobby the government to provide day camps where they cold experience some of the joy of a holiday here in Hong Kong - trips to the beach, the wetlands, swimming pools. These are just as important for children, a chance to be with other children in a social setting, learning, talking, being kids.

Agreed more should be done. I would also offer every kid access to 2 hours of personal tutors every week (means tested) in the subjects of their choice

Reducing the 6 week break to say 4 or 3 weeks and spreading the holidays throughout the year would help poorer kids.