Tuesday, November 22, 2005

School Pressure in Hong Kong Yesterday was a big day for us. Local Primary schools posted lists of the students who were given 1st round admittance. Our grandson Ethan had applied to a well know local boys school. We checked out their web site and to our chagrin learned that he had now received 1st round acceptance. During the first round, schools select students based on a point system. If you have a sibling at the school you receive an automatic in. If not, early acceptance is determined on a "point system". If you don't have enough points to get early acceptance (our situation), then you must wait until January when the government sends you a list of schools you may apply to. Admittance is based on a lottery (pure chance). Jennifer is determined that Ethan attend a local Chinese school, which is no problem. The challenge will be "which one". In Hong Kong you need to get into the "right primary school" so you can attend the "right secondary school" so that you will do well in your exams and have a chance to go to university. If you get in the wrong school for 1st grade, you could be doomed for life! When we arrived in Hong Kong we sent our children (then ages 9 and 4) to a private International school. They received a fine education, but never learned Cantonese well and didn't develop close bonds to local people. Ethan has been attending a local Kindegarten and his Cantonese is getting better and better now (after 3 years, Kindegarten runs for 3 years and begins when the child is 3 years old). Pray for us. We have a lot more homework to do now. There are over 30 schools in our district. During the next round (January 2006) we have to choose our top 3, cross our fingers, pray and hope for the best. We're not overly concerned, and we still have a chance at our first choice (Ying Wa College). The Lord has a good school experience prepared for Ethan, so please pray with us that he will get into a good local Christian public elementary school. Thanks for praying. If you want to know more, drop us a comment. Allan 11:11:57 AM    comment []

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