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‘Pre-learning’ in Hong Kong education
Kaen Lu, SKH Chan Young Secondary School
During the summer holiday, the term “pre-made child” went viral on social media. It refers to the phenomenon in which parents have their children learn the coming semester’s school curriculum during the summer holiday. This has sparked widespread discussion on issues such as advanced learning and the city’s educational environment.
Online forums reveal a wide spectrum of opinions, but most agree that it reflects the intense academic pressures students face today.
In Hong Kong, academic results serve as the primary measure of a student’s worth. Those with top grades are recognised and celebrated. Conversely, students gifted in non-academic areas often receive little acknowledgement. This dynamic pushes many to prioritise outcomes over the learning process itself.
Hong Kong has a fast-paced curriculum, and most schools can only complete the syllabus just before the final exam. The final chapters of most textbooks are usually the most challenging. Hence, students who do not have enough time to prepare for exams often perform poorly.
In contrast, “pre-made” students who learn all the material before the semester begins have ample time to practise and become more familiar with the topics. Knowing this fact about Hong Kong’s school system creates an extra “invisible” pressure that forces students to pre-learn.
Students taking admission tests for school transfers often encounter questions covering material from the next academic year. Those hoping to move to a better school are therefore compelled to learn ahead. In this way, Hong Kong schools themselves, through the design of assessments, promote pre-learning.
Every coin has two sides. Evidence suggests that children who study the next semester’s content during their holidays gain confidence. However, students may also become overwhelmed when they do not have time to relax during their holiday, and they are likely to have to make trade-offs among learning, travelling and other hobbies.
In addition, “pre-learning” may have a far-reaching impact on student mental health. Education blogger “Brain Planet” used a brilliant analogy in an article discussing this practice: true previewing is when a child opens a new textbook themselves, hits a part they don’t understand, gets stuck, frowns and ponders, and then has an ‘’aha!’’ moment of clarity.
This moment of “getting stuck and then figuring it out” is important for a child. Not only do they gain knowledge, but their brains grow. Studying the material ahead during the summer holiday, often with the guidance of their parents, cuts out this crucial growth process with a single stroke.
Ultimately, students respond to pre-learning in different ways. Rather than following the crowd or rejecting it outright, they might benefit from a more tailored approach: one that considers each child’s pace, interests and well-being.
Appreciating China’s heritage
Chloe Chan Sze-ching, Kiangsu-Chekiang College (Shatin)
Standing on the Great Wall, you can almost hear the sound of ancient camel bells ringing along the Silk Road. Now, look across the land, and you will see high-speed railways slicing through the mountains, connecting cities at breathtaking speed.
True revival means honouring our heritage while boldly shaping a future driven by creativity, unity and global responsibility. A nation’s revival must begin with confidence in its own culture.
For centuries, Chinese civilisation has illuminated the world with its philosophy, art and inventions.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics perfectly embodied this, blending ancient wisdom with dazzling, cutting-edge technology. It showed the world both a timeless and modern China.
A tree grows tall only because its roots run deep. Similarly, a nation that truly knows its past can embrace the future without losing its soul. Spiritual confidence must walk hand in hand with innovation and shared prosperity.
Consider China’s technological leaps, including 5G networks connecting millions, renewable energy farms reshaping the landscape, and the Chang’e missions leaving footprints on the far side of the moon as the Tiangong space station orbits overhead.
These are not just headlines; they are symbols of a nation pushing the boundaries of possibility.
China’s achievements are not confined to laboratories. The historic triumph of lifting millions out of poverty proves that true rejuvenation must be inclusive. Strength is meaningless if it leaves people behind.
Furthermore, the Belt and Road Initiative echoes the ancient Silk Road, building roads, ports and digital connections that foster mutual development across continents. China’s advanced model seeks economic and innovative prosperity. If culture is the root and innovation is the engine, then the youth are the pilots steering this journey forward.
The dream of renewal is ultimately carried by the younger generation, who are responsible for blending tradition with tomorrow. We see it in the guochao trend, where young entrepreneurs and artists integrate classic Chinese aesthetics into fashion, music and everyday products, making heritage cool and globally appealing.
Revival is not about dominance or isolation; it is about contributing a unique voice and concrete solutions to a shared future for all humankind.
The Chinese dream, at its heart, connects with the dreams of people everywhere for a peaceful, green and prosperous world.
Reviving China is a magnificent journey of cultural rediscovery, technological breakthrough and global contribution. Every tradition you honour and every bridge of understanding you build with the world adds to that story. This is how we carry on five thousand years of culture.
