‘Remote learning takes a definite toll on children’

A study has found remote learning can take a toll on children’s learning ability, their physical health, and even social skills.

The Hong Kong Primary Education Research Association questioned more than 260 primary school teachers and 440 parents in November, and held three focus groups this year.

One of the association’s executive committee members, Steve Wong, said despite the toll of online learning, it was important to note it was a global trend that wouldn’t disappear with the pandemic.

“Normal schooling, with classroom teaching, I hope they can be resumed, right, as I said it is a normal trend of learning and we have to change our ideology that learning is not set, right, so the online learning, the learning on the internet, will have an effect on the autonomous learning on the part of the students – that should be emphasised.”