In Hong Kong, the proficiency in Cantonese is vital for success, posing a challenge for non-Chinese-speaking students. The government allocated a record HK$589 million to support these students in the 2022-23 academic year, nearly tripling the amount from 2014-15. However, many schools are not meeting performance indicators set by the Education Bureau.
To address this issue, a charity founded by Manoj Dhar opened its first kindergarten, teaching Cantonese, English, and Mandarin to students. With funding from the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and other organizations, the facility currently educates 56 students, primarily ethnically Nepali, with plans to increase enrollment.
Lessons are conducted mainly in Cantonese, with additional English and Mandarin classes. The goal is to create multilingual six-year-olds to better integrate into society and pursue career goals. Watch the video below to learn more about Hong Kong’s education system and its impact on non-ethnic Chinese children.
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Is Hong Kong’s education system failing non-ethnic Chinese children?