Hong Kong’s education system is often praised for its high academic standards, as reflected in its high performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). However, students’ achievement levels vary based on their socioeconomic status (SES). It was found that socio-economically advantaged students achieved higher scores than disadvantaged students by 65 points in mathematics during the 2022 PISA assessments (OECD, 2022). Although this gap is smaller than the OECD average, it reveals that existing disparities in educational results remain significant.
SES, which relates to a family’s economic resources, plays a significant role in determining access to educational resources and influencing children’s performance. A study by Lamont & Lareau (2003) demonstrated how parents from wealthier backgrounds dedicate more resources to help their children gain cultural advantages such as private tutoring and extracurricular activities. The acquisition of cultural capital helps students perform better in academic achievement because it generates supplemental educational possibilities and a conducive educational environment.
Hong Kong’s education system is commended for its equity, with SES having a minimal impact on student performance compared to other countries/economies. According to the OECD (2022), Hong Kong ranked second in the most equitable education system, with 17% of socio-economically disadvantaged students performing in the top quartile in mathematics, far surpassing the OECD average. This may be attributed by the availability of free or low-cost supplementary resources in Hong Kong, such as after-school programs and online learning platforms provided by some NGOs for students from low-income families, which help filling the gap. Additionally, some NGOs provided community learning centres and mentorship programs to underprivileged students that offer them personalized support in overcoming academic challenges. Despite these positive indicators, more efforts are persistently needed in reducing educational inequalities because socio-economically privileged students maintain a monopoly over top performance categories.
Hong Kong delivers outstanding education which student outcomes are minimally affected by socio-economic background factors, yet additional measures are needed to close the SES achievement gaps among student groups. True educational excellence lies not only in high rankings but also in ensuring every student, regardless of backgrounds, has the opportunity to thrive. It is hoped that continued efforts will be made to enhance Hong Kong’s educational equity and support the academic success of all students.
By Yuki Lai, HKU BSocSc Year 4 Student
Posted on 24 Mar 2025
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