Hong Kong Students' School Belonging Ranks Near Bottom Globally as Youth Suicide Rate Doubles
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
PISA 2025 results released on September 8 show Hong Kong students scoring 496 in science, 480 in reading and 522 in mathematics—all above OECD averages but declining from 2022 scores by 25, 20 and 19 points respectively . In the same week, the University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Prevention and Research announced that the suicide rate for those aged 15 and under rose to 2.9 per 100,000 in 2025, up from 0.9 in 2024 . Professor Yip Siu-fai noted that approximately 32% of student suicide cases came from Band 1A schools . Meanwhile, Hong Kong's school belonging index stood at -0.32, ranking 81st out of 82 countries and economies surveyed, with only 67.9% of students agreeing they belonged to their school .
Key Points
- Hong Kong's school belonging index of -0.32 compares poorly to the OECD average of 0.09, placing the city 81st among 82 economies
- Suicide rate for Hong Kong students aged 15 and under reached 2.9 per 100,000 in 2025, doubling from 0.9 in 2024
- About 32% of student suicide cases originated from Band 1A schools, the top-tier academic institutions
- Despite high classroom order (0.48 vs OECD 0.14) and strong teacher support (0.26 vs OECD 0.03), only 44% of Hong Kong students held a growth mindset versus 69.3% OECD average
- A study tracking 313 Hong Kong primary students over eight months found social-emotional skills linked to closer relationships and higher well-being
Why It Matters
The disconnect between academic compliance and genuine engagement raises urgent questions about Hong Kong's educational priorities. With the city producing disciplined, high-performing students yet recording alarmingly low school belonging and a doubling youth suicide rate, educators and policymakers face pressure to rethink metrics beyond examination scores. The research suggests that nurturing social-emotional skills and authentic belonging may be as critical as academic achievement for student survival and success .
The disconnect between academic compliance and genuine engagement raises urgent questions about Hong Kong's educational priorities. With the city producing disciplined, high-performing students yet recording alarmingly low school belonging and a doubling youth suicide rate, educators and policymakers face pressure to rethink metrics beyond examination scores. The research suggests that nurturing social-emotional skills and authentic belonging may be as critical as academic achievement for student survival and success .