Hong Kong schools told to avoid grade repetition for SEN students
The Education Bureau has updated its School Administration Guide, urging schools to avoid grade retention, especially for students with special educational needs, citing mental health risks. Schools must consult parents and professionals before any such decision.
The Education Bureau has updated its School Administration Guide, advising schools to avoid making students repeat a year, and to refrain from arranging grade retention more than once.
The guide states that schools should not arrange grade repetition for students with special educational needs (SEN), particularly those with intellectual disabilities or severe mental illness. It says such arrangements could worsen their social and emotional adjustment difficulties and increase mental health risks.
According to the guide, schools should consider students' emotional and social adaptation alongside their special educational needs, and provide appropriate support measures as an alternative to grade retention. It stresses that without proper counselling and follow-up work, retention could have a negative impact on students.
When considering grade retention for SEN students, schools must discuss the matter with parents through a cross-professional team to ensure the decision is in the student's best interest. Schools may also seek opinions from other professionals, such as psychiatrists, if necessary.
