Hong Kong's Free After-School Care: A Small Step, Not the Solution

Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to expand a free after-school program for low-income families. This follows a visit to a participating school last month. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the program promotes family harmony. He cited feedback that children showed improvement in schoolwork and social skills. The expansion of this service is a positive step. It provides crucial support for struggling families. However, this single program alone cannot fix deep inequalities in education. The real test for policymakers is a full review of the system. True educational equality requires more than after-school care. It needs policies that ensure every child has the same opportunities from the start.