Many parents complain about the local education system. They spend more time protesting against the teaching medium, the exam system and the syllabuses than educating their children. Worse, some simply give up and send their youngsters overseas.
As parents, do we ever ask ourselves whether we have contributed our share to help educate our young? No education system is perfect; and I believe education starts at home. We parents should often consider our own actions, not just criticise educators and government officials for doing a sloppy job.
The government spends millions of dollars every year to help young people who neither hold jobs nor receive an education. It offers skills-training courses, sets up counselling sessions and even creates job opportunities for them, in a bid to dissuade them from going astray.
These are, however, remedial efforts. Providing remedies is better than doing nothing, but the government must realise that prevention is always better than remedial work. Teaching parents how to educate their children is always more desirable than painfully shepherding the strays - potential delinquents - back onto the right path. Still, we cannot ask the government to do all the work.
These are some suggestions for parents.
First, we must create an English-speaking environment for our children: I don't worry about their Chinese proficiency levels. It's their English proficiency that parents should pay attention to. We should start speaking English to them at home when they are toddlers. If they speak English comfortably, it will strengthen their learning ability.
Second, we should encourage our young to take the initiative to read and study. We shouldn't let them rely too much on us: let them understand that they are responsible for their studies. Parents should consider refraining from taking annual leave to be with their youngsters when exam time comes. Otherwise, exams become parents' exams and students will begin to think: 'If I fail, it's my parents' problem.'
Third, we ought to set high expectations for our children. If we expect them to obtain an A in a test, they will at least achieve a B. But if we are happy to see a C, they will often come home with a D. But we must be realistic and understand our youngsters well and where their abilities lie. Unrealistic expectations may lead to tragedies.
Last but not least, we must set aside quality time to communicate with our children. Once a week, we should spend at least three uninterrupted hours with them, talking about their lives and studies, laughing and crying together. Let them know you are always there for them. A three-hour trek for the whole family in one of our beautiful country parks, once a week, can do wonders to improve their academic performance and personal growth.
I practise what I preach. And I urge parents to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. I began speaking English to my daughter after she was born. I read English books and newspapers, watch English TV programmes and listen to the BBC at home.
When my daughter grew up, she thought English was her native tongue. Hong Kong is basically a Chinese-speaking city, but I provided my daughter with an English-speaking environment. She obtained an A-grade in many subjects in the School Certificate exam in 2002, including English language and Chinese language and literature.
My wife and I spend quality time with our daughter. We usually go hiking in the mountains for half a day every weekend. We talk about anything and everything. (Don't tell me you can't find the time. I insisted on that routine even when I was working from 11am to 1am). We set high expectations for her. I told my child it wasn't impossible for her to get a place at Harvard or Cambridge universities. In 2003, she was admitted through the early admission scheme to study law at the University of Hong Kong.
Last summer, after she had a stint as an intern with a major local law firm, she was offered a traineeship for two years. And she beat a dozen of her classmates, nominated by her law school, to clinch a major scholarship.
The education system is always flawed, no matter how many reforms are implemented. We should make the best of it. Instead of blaming the system, we should start doing the right thing: educating our children. It starts with us at home.
Victor Keung Fung is a Hong Kong-based commentator on language and education issues
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