Opinion | 3 easy wins to modernise Hong Kong’s education system

September 4, 2026 - 02:25

Second, the curriculum should push far beyond the traditional core subjects. Many students graduate without a solid grasp of global economics, digital literacy, or cultural nuance, yet these are exactly the tools needed for Hong Kong's role as an international hub. A mandatory cross-disciplinary module, say on sustainable urban living or data ethics, would expose students to real-world problems that do not fit neatly into one textbook.

Finally, the city must stop treating the Diploma of Secondary Education as the only gateway to success. University places are limited, and many students are better suited to vocational tracks, apprenticeships, or overseas foundation programmes. The government should partner with industries to create recognised, stackable credentials that let young people switch between work and study without dead ends. These three moves are not radical. They are overdue.