By Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, SJ
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) has yielded eight “Champions” this year, including the so-called four “Super Champions.” They come from mostly the traditional elite schools.
Every July in the past decades, newspapers in Hong Kong would carry extensive reports about the “Champions” of the secondary school leaving certificate public examination of the academic year, such as HKDSE. These were followed by a few days of follow-up stories, celebrating the success of the champions, their schools, desired majors, winning tips for preparations for the examination, and personal stories. Consequently, their respective schools would become more popular or further entrenched in the minds of current and potential stakeholders.
It should not be surprising for schools, that want to take reference of this championship a benchmark, will start their races as early as the admission stage. To identify their potential champions, they formulate well-designed identification and drilling processes.
It is hard to imagine the high expectations and pressure placed on these aspiring students. What mindset must they possess for their ‘education’ if they want to become one of those famed champions? What about the many others who have not done well or even failed in this examination? Have they gained anything from their education, or are they damned as ‘losers’?
It would be regrettable if that were the case. Elitism has been a part of education in China since the establishment of the Imperial Examination System. Only the champions of that exam would stand a chance to be eligible to join the elite civil service.
Champions and elitism have been deeply ingrained in our cultural consciousness. However, how long can we continue like that? Does undermining this culture amount to undermining the value of education? Or, can we not celebrate championships in more domains than academic aptitude? Can our examination not help our students identify their assets rather than liabilities or their potentials rather than deficiencies?
Thank God our educators and government have noticed the disturbing problems and their effects on our students. Attempts have been made to enlarge the skill sets, to be assessed in the public examination so that students can identify their interests and gifts in some non-academic areas. However, the main weight still falls on the traditional academic subjects while the non-academic subjects are relegated as of lesser interests. Sadly, local media would continue to reinforce the culture of champions, and schools will align their education accordingly.
Where else in the world would the champions of the secondary school leaving examination honoured as national or provincial heroes? Is this not unique to Hong Kong? Other countries celebrate their heroes for their outstanding achievements in the world. So, what do we say to our incoming students and their parents about our education in Hong Kong?
If we think about education and the world in a broader context, is the purpose of education meant to form competitors for a competitive global economy? What role does education play in sustaining an increasingly competitive world characterised by widening resource distribution gaps? Do we really want that? Are we not reinforcing what we perceive as inevitable? In what ways can competition benefit the competitors themselves as well as the world at large?
Hong Kong, our world, and especially the world religions should start our soul searching and engage each other in deep dialogues — on the shared essence of contemporary education for a sustainable and desirable future: Education for humanity, ecology, peace and sustainability. Moreover, we Christians have Jesus Christ to model after—truly human and truly divine. In him, humanity and divinity meet perfectly.
Before I end this little article, I would like to say a few words to the students of this year’s S6 graduating class and the incoming candidates of HKDSE. You are the Champions of your own lives. No one else can champion for who you are and who you will be. Real champions are those who strive to better their own achievements while empowering others to better theirs. Together with your peers, you will be the Champions of the world of tomorrow! For no one is a loser since the so-called “failures” are essentially valuable preparations for future champions.
+ Stephen Chow, SJ
