Three Scalable Innovations To Reimagine Education

1. Introduce Social And Emotional Education

One of the biggest gaps in our education system is emotional education. In the mainstream system, 3 out of 10 kids are severely anxious or depressed. 97% of teachers want more support in dealing with this distress. 68% of parents feel frustrated by their incapacity at handling their children’s emotional issues, and half of them argue daily.

Matthew Kwok and Raymond Ya

ng got their visionary idea when they taught at St Bonaventure Catholic Primary School as TFHK Fellows (2017-18). At the frontlines, these two found that students often had conflicts because they couldn’t express themselves. Teachers were then overwhelmed by these conflicts. What students sorely lacked, and needed most, were emotional skills that would enhance their emotional well-being. Joining up with Anthony Ngai, the

 trio founded JUSTFEEL “感講”: a registered charity with a vision of transforming the communication culture in schools and families, focusing particularly on primary schools because of the importance of early, preventive intervention when it comes to mental issues. Based on Dr. Marshall Rosenberg’s influential Theory of Nonviolent Communication, they empower educators to approach students in a way

that embraces underlying needs and feelings. In the process, students learn to have better emotional dialogue with others, skilfully communicating in a way that achieves mutual connection and harmony.

The UK government has officially made social-emotional learning a compulsory subject. A white paper showed that health issues in society began, and could be prevented, during school years (hyperlink). There is huge space for Hong Kong to begin putting a greater emphasis on students’ mental health needs.

Find out more about this project in this article.

2. Revamp Learning Experience – Make Students Move Again

In Europe, many schools have begun transforming their classrooms into “Kinesthetic Classrooms.” Props, teaching aids and flexible seats allow students to stand, kneel, jump, bounce, or even engage in movement activities like riding an exercise bike. Why?

Research by American institutions for the last 20 years has proved that, contrary to what our traditional practices suggest, in which our teachers sternly exhorted us to “sit quietly and stay seated!” during class, many students actually focus better when they are moving.

Natalie Cheung (Fellow 2018-20), having learned of this research, was the one who first introduced it to a Hong Kong classroom. At St. Bonaventure Catholic Primary School, two of her students sat on a Pedal Desk, studiously doing their classwork while pedaling below. Five students sat on Wobble Chairs that wobbled like spinning tops. One took off his shoes and sat in a chair shaped like a turtle shell.

Data samples collected during the period show the success of the project.  “Moving is the nature of all children,” said Natalie, and “allowing them to move will give their brains some energy boost while helping them concentrate and absorb better.”

This project was sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. But the benefits make it an idea that our education sector ought to explore further.

3. Future-proof The Curriculum

A common criticism of Hong Kong’s education system is its spoon-feeding nature. Our local curriculum focuses on preparing students for standardized tests, at the expense of the skills that will be most critical in the world of the future.

Janet Fu (Fellow 2017-18) was involved in constructing an affordable International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum at Delia Memorial School (Glee Path). The benefits of the IB curriculum are its focus on critical and independent thinking, logical inquiry, and learning formats that are experiential and interactive. For example, in Janet’s class, Research and Enquiry, students explore different research methods, and the hands-on experience helps them assimilate the knowledge more effectively.

But the IB is often inaccessible to many students from poorer households. In Hong Kong, it’s only offered at costly international schools, private schools, and high banding schools which are benefited from the Direct Subsidy Scheme.