Hong Kong's After-School Care Scheme Critiqued for Lacking Extracurricular Opportunities

Hong Kong's School-based After-School Care Service Scheme, a targeted poverty alleviation measure, faces criticism for focusing primarily on homework completion rather than providing broader extracurricular opportunities. The program aims to assist families struggling with childcare, enabling parents to work longer hours and increase their income. During a visit, a child asked Lee whether he had ever failed to hand in homework, to which Lee responded that he was "super diligent" and didn't think there was enough homework. Health authorities have emphasized that students need more exercise rather than additional academic work. The government is urged to offer organized sports and arts training that poor families cannot afford, moving beyond mere homework assistance to promote student well-being. The scheme must work in concert with other poverty alleviation measures to effectively support families. Authorities should reconsider how to foster well-being within an education system heavily geared toward academic achievement.