Survey Shows HK Secondary Students Score 3.65 in AI Literacy Index
On.cc · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A first-of-its-kind survey measuring Hong Kong secondary school students' AI literacy has revealed generally positive self-assessments, with an overall index score of 3.65 out of 5. The study, conducted between June and August 2026 by the Association of Hong Kong Interactive Marketing (AIM) and the Asia-Pacific Policy Advocacy Institute (ASAP), collected 1,166 valid questionnaires across eight dimensions of AI literacy. While students demonstrated strong ethical awareness, practical application skills and human-AI collaboration abilities, AI creativity emerged as the weakest area at just 3.22 points, suggesting students view themselves primarily as users rather than creators of AI-powered outputs.
Key Points
- Overall AI literacy index scored 3.65/5 based on 1,166 valid questionnaires from Hong Kong secondary students collected June-August 2026
- Eight dimensions assessed: technical understanding, practical application, critical evaluation, ethical awareness, human-AI collaboration, AI data literacy, AI creativity, and self-efficacy
- Top-scoring areas: ethical awareness, practical application and human-AI collaboration all achieved 3.81 points, indicating responsible AI use attitudes
- Critical evaluation scored 3.76, while technical understanding (3.62), AI data literacy and self-efficacy (both 3.58) lagged behind
- AI creativity ranked lowest at 3.22 points, revealing students struggle to position themselves as AI creators beyond being tool users
Why It Matters
The findings highlight a gap between Hong Kong students' frequent AI tool usage and their limited understanding of underlying algorithms and data mechanisms. As the government rolls out the Primary and Secondary Digital Education Development Blueprint and the first Five-Year Plan, integrating AI theory into curricula and providing hands-on creative opportunities could strengthen the city's future innovation capacity. Educators emphasize that cultivating AI literacy requires cross-disciplinary collaboration and experiential learning beyond traditional classroom instruction .
The findings highlight a gap between Hong Kong students' frequent AI tool usage and their limited understanding of underlying algorithms and data mechanisms. As the government rolls out the Primary and Secondary Digital Education Development Blueprint and the first Five-Year Plan, integrating AI theory into curricula and providing hands-on creative opportunities could strengthen the city's future innovation capacity. Educators emphasize that cultivating AI literacy requires cross-disciplinary collaboration and experiential learning beyond traditional classroom instruction .