Around 66% of Hong Kong upper primary students experience stress from testing overload - survey

A significant majority of upper primary students in Hong Kong are grappling with stress stemming from an overwhelming volume of school assessments and tests, according to a recent survey. The study, conducted by Caritas Hong Kong and researcher Moon Law from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), revealed that close to 70 percent of students in Primary Four to Six reported feeling stressed by academic pressures.

Beyond the immediate stress of testing, the survey also highlighted widespread anxiety about the future, with nearly 60 percent of respondents expressing worry about an uncertain path ahead. These findings emerged from interviews with 5,200 pupils conducted between October and January. Following the initial survey, 40 focus groups were organized to allow students, teachers, and parents to share their experiences and concerns.

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Changing the outlook for Hong Kong children’s well-being is not simply a matter of telling them to de-stress, nor does it revolve around ‘outsourced’ support such as piling on material goods or offering extra tutoring. Instead, it requires parents and all other parties to comprehensively adjust their expectations and to avoid offloading excessive aspirations onto the next generation.

During these sessions, students shared that increased academic pressure made it harder to cope with life's uncertainties outside of school. Many admitted to lowering their expectations as a coping mechanism to avoid disappointment. Moon Law of CUHK’s Social Work Department emphasized that students often hide their anxieties, posing risks to their mental health. He stated that addressing children's well-being requires a comprehensive adjustment of expectations from parents and other stakeholders, rather than simply advising de-stressing or providing material support.

Caritas Hong Kong recommended empowering children with more autonomy in decision-making to enhance their sense of hope and resilience. The organization believes that when children feel they have agency over their futures, their life satisfaction improves, equipping them to better face adversity. This approach, they suggest, is crucial for fostering the resilience needed to navigate challenges.

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When children believe they have the agency to shape their own futures and improve their satisfaction with life, their sense of hope is boosted, fostering the resilience needed to face adversity and challenges.