Source: Senior Parenting Education Expert Bally
In fact, preparing for Primary One (P1) requires a bit more time and attention. If you ask me, I would advise that from the Nursery (PN) stage, it is important to “analyze first, then deploy.” But how do we start with the analysis?
Many parents are not fully aware of the different types of schools available in Hong Kong. For example, there are traditional government-funded schools, direct subsidy schools, private schools, and international schools. What are the distinctions among these types of schools? What are their teaching philosophies? Parents also need to consider their economic situation and what type of school they aspire for their children to attend.
They need to understand and analyze, which will help set a goal. Once a goal is in place, we can move on to the next step, which is to personally listen to the philosophies of each school. Why do we think preparation should start at the PN stage? Because many schools only hold information sessions once a year. These sessions often occur at the same time, and if we only attend in K2, and we have three desired schools that all have their sessions on the same Saturday, parents might not get a chance to hear them.
Additionally, these information sessions have a limited number of slots—only hundreds to a thousand spots are available. On one day, there may be over five thousand applicants. If there are that many applicants, it is possible that you might not get selected for a session and miss your chance to attend. Therefore, we need to prepare one to three years in advance to consider whether a school’s philosophy fits our child.
If we have already attended sessions for about one to two years and have heard the presentations of our desired schools, then in the final year, we should revisit our top one to three schools for additional sessions. This is crucial because the educational landscape in Hong Kong changes rapidly. Attending again can help affirm our choice of school.
Often, the first session may be attended by the mother, while the second may be attended by the father. It’s important for the family to be aligned in their views, which makes attending these sessions together very important. Once everyone understands, we should move into the third step: having a family discussion about what educational direction we envision for our children in the future. Do we want a very traditional teaching method, or are we looking for a happy environment? Some schools are labeled as “Happy Schools,” but many parents mistakenly believe that being a “Happy School” equates to a lack of effectiveness.
Currently, there are two main types of “Happy Schools.” Some “Happy Schools” focus only on creating a joyful atmosphere but fail to keep up with the Primary One curriculum, while others manage to combine happiness with effectiveness. If a child has the ability to choose their desired school, they can keep up with the curriculum, so parents need to understand what “Happy School” means in terms of their educational philosophy and effectiveness.
Once parents reach a consensus, we can begin the serious task of selecting the most suitable school for our child. Often, parents choose the best school for their child simply because it has a good reputation, but the best school may not be the most suitable one. As parents, we need to look for the school that best fits our child’s needs. For example, if a child is very active, parents may feel inclined to choose a more traditional school to keep them stable. However, this might not be appropriate if the child is full of energy. Or, if a child struggles with English, should we find them an English primary school or an international school?
Consider this: if a school’s curriculum requires a learning capability that a child has not yet reached, the child will be discouraged from wanting to attend school. If a child is not good at English but excels in Chinese and enrolls in an English primary school, they may not understand what the teacher is saying, resulting in a lack of interest in English. This situation could discourage the child from coming to school altogether, as they won’t benefit from what the teacher is teaching. A poor experience in English could undermine their entire academic interest.
Parents often wonder what the right choice is. We can analyze this using the analogy of a big pond versus a small pond. If we enroll a child in a school where their learning abilities and performance are above average, their confidence will grow throughout the learning process, and they won’t feel left behind. In contrast, if they attend a school we believe is exceptional, but it is beyond their capabilities, they may end up at the bottom, becoming a small fish in a big pond. This could lead to unhappiness in learning, as they might be underestimated.
Therefore, I would suggest that parents first understand the school’s philosophy. Ask what level the primary school demands and see if their child meets those demands in English, Chinese, and mathematics. If you feel your child is capable of handling these subjects and is already engaged in similar activities, then this school is suitable for your child.