Pre-primary education and Chinese language acquisition of ethnic minority students in Hong Kong: a multidisciplinary critical evaluation
Asian Education and Development Studies
ISSN: 2046-3162
Article publication date: 10 August 2021
Issue publication date: 13 September 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This review study focuses on the framework for pre-primary education and language acquisition for non-Chinese-speaking students (NCS students) from ethnic minority families (EM families) in Hong Kong.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts a multidisciplinary perspective that involves both assessing the broader governing framework and researching their specific needs. In its overview of the significant changes made in recent years and an exploration of the gaps in the framework, with reference to other jurisdictions, along with input from developmental psychology as it relates to the issues faced by NCS students.
Findings
This study contributes to the literature on how to shape further policies and reforms to optimize learning of NCS children in Hong Kong from a young age. This helps NCS students and families achieve their right to education and equal opportunities and schools to cater the needs of these students and families, which is essential to providing an enriched learning environment for our children regardless of their ethnicity.
Originality/value
This study uses multidisciplinary approach to study pre-primary education and Chinese language acquisition of ethnic minority students in Hong Kong.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the anonymous external reviewers for their comments that improved the quality of this work.
Disclosure statement: The authors declare no competing interest.
Citation
Lone, F.N. and Chow, B.W.-Y. (2022), "Pre-primary education and Chinese language acquisition of ethnic minority students in Hong Kong: a multidisciplinary critical evaluation", Asian Education and Development Studies, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 691-701. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-04-2021-0081
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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