A Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor
Nowadays, there are numerous students who feel stressed about coping with the public examination. They also get lots of depression when the examination is approaching. As a Secondary 5 student, I would like to share my views on this issue and explain why there is such a phenomenon.
First of all, I would like to indicate how important the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) is. In Hong Kong, we only have one public examination which is HKDSE to assess and screen students to go to university. The examination results will determine their future and even the opportunity to enter universities. Therefore, the results of the examination are undoubtedly decisive and influential to the candidates. Another purpose of the public examination is it is a means for candidates to choose the suitable or favourite tertiary institution to further study. In order to get into their dream faculty and preferred university, they have to face a keen competition – HKDSE. Of course, to fulfill their goals or their parents’ expectation is a major cause of their stress.
In addition, Hong Kong is a highly competitive city as there are only limited number of university places. It means numerous students have to compete for a scant number of degrees in the universities. Rushing to tutorial classes seems to be a craze among the sixth formers. It is omnipresent that tutorial centres might well equip them for the fierce examinations with examination skills and subject knowledge. They think they can acquire more practical things through participating in tutorial class. I firmly believe that the tendency of such situation will keep moving. It is obvious that the levels of difficulty of the examination seem to be higher in the future.
Other than that, I have a few more reasons about why the public examination is stressful. Candidates will be anxious about their future career. They think if they cannot get high grades in the public examination, they will not have any offer from the university. That means they are the losers of the education system. This surely makes them feel strained and overstressed. Also, they might be afraid of disappointing their parents if they cannot fulfill their expectations. All these attribute to their anxiety and some may even suffer from depression.
Last but not least, I think the unhealthy education system will trigger more students to get stressed. The problem can only be alleviated through the collaboration among the government, schools, parents and students themselves.
Yours faithfully
Chris Wong
(428 words)