What’s the value of Hongkongers’ lives? Education chief gets earful over HK$5,000 payout per school to fight student suicides
Eddie Ng Hak-kim defended the HK$5 million plan to instil positive messages, but lawmakers question its sufficiency
Government subsidised schools are to receive HK$5,000 each from the Education Bureau as part of a scheme to address the recent spate of student suicides in the city, the education chief revealed on Monday as lawmakers criticised the amount as insufficient and the scheme as not tackling the problem at its roots.
The bureau had set aside $5 million for some 1,000 public and direct subsidy primary and secondary schools in the city to organise activities and talks that instil positive messages among students, including family bonding activities, Eddie Ng Hak-kim announced during a special Legislative Council meeting to discuss issues related to student suicides.
Students’ suicide posts on Facebook prompt calls to update Hong Kong’s traditional counselling strategies
Lawmakers including Elizabeth Quat and Starry Lee Wai-king questioned whether HK$5,000 for each school was sufficient, while Gary Fan Kwok-wai said HK$5 million paled compared to the HK$1 billion set aside for a scholarship fund to attract students from countries included in the One Belt, One Road initiative to come and study in the city.
“What is the value of Hongkongers’ lives?” he asked.
Several lawmakers said the allowance for schools would instead be a burden for teachers.
Dr Kenneth Chan Ka-lok said it was more important to give teachers enough time to listen to their students, rather than an allowance that would keep teachers busy planning activities.
