A recent survey has revealed that Hong Kong students face a heavy academic workload, studying an average of 9.4 hours per day — including time spent in school, after-school learning, tutoring, and self-study — while suffering from severe sleep deprivation. The figure significantly exceeds the average for countries in the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD).
The survey also found that children spend about two hours a day on "free play" or outdoor activities, which meets international recommendations, but their sleep duration is generally insufficient. The lead researcher pointed out that artificial intelligence is reshaping the education system and called on authorities to study concrete measures to reduce students' academic burden, including exploring the feasibility of abolishing mid‑term examinations in full‑day schools.
Conducted by the Hong Kong Research Association from May 4 to 26, the survey used random telephone sampling to interview 1,079 kindergarten, primary, and secondary school students and their parents across Hong Kong. Results showed that secondary school students spend an average of 6.6 hours per day in school, primary school students 6.9 hours, and kindergarten students 4.7 hours.
Based on the Education Bureau's requirement of a minimum of 190 school days per year for full‑day schools, primary school students attend class for 1,311 hours annually — over 60 percent more than the OECD primary school average of 804 hours. Secondary school students log 1,254 hours per year, more than 30 percent above the OECD average of 922 hours.
The survey's findings highlight the urgent need for policy review to alleviate the intense pressure on Hong Kong's students, the researcher added.
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