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Hong Kong Primary Four pupils take third spot in reading survey of 57 countries and territories around the world
- Hong Kong beaten only by Singapore, which took top spot, and Ireland in major survey released on Wednesday
- But survey finds, despite high standard, city youngsters lack confidence in their reading ability
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Hong Kong schoolchildren have ranked third in an international reading assessment involving 57 countries and regions around the world.
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The city was beaten only by Singapore, which took the top spot, and Ireland in the 2021 results for the Progress in the International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), which was released on Wednesday.
More than 60 per cent of the places involved in the study of Primary Four pupils reported a decline in reading proficiency, but the research team said they were pleased to see Hong Kong schoolchildren were able to maintain high standards, despite problems caused by Covid-19.
“We are happy that Hong Kong did not suffer that much,” Dr Cheong Choo-mui, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong’s education faculty, said.
“Hong Kong actually has the strength and resilience to go through it because parents are there to support the children when they are at home.”
The education appraisal was designed to assess the reading ability of Primary Four pupils around the world.
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