English skills keep sliding in Asia

Ivy Ong-Wood

english skills among youths are on a decline all round Asia - and Hong Kong is not exempt. A recent survey shows that the SAR ranks fourth in English proficiency in Asia.

Education First's 2023 edition of the EF English Proficiency Index, the world's largest survey on adult English proficiency, analyzes data from 2.2 million non-native English speakers in 113 countries and regions. It is based on test scores from the EF Standard English Test, used worldwide.

This year's report reveals a continuous, global decline in overall English proficiency among young people over the past five years, and a growing gender gap in English proficiency.

According to the report, Hong Kong comes in fourth in English proficiency in Asia, after Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

Globally, it ranks 29th, putting it in the high-proficiency category. But that is no reason to celebrate. The report points out that the English proficiency of those aged 18 to 20 in Hong Kong has dropped significantly from 2020 to 2022.

Although there have been signs of recovery in 2023, the overall English proficiency of this age group has already fallen back to the level of 2017.

"The decline in young people's English proficiency is worrying and likely reflects the impact of the pandemic on students' learning progress," said Jeannie Tse, country manager of EF Hong Kong and Macau.

"Among the students we have interacted with, many have expressed struggles with online classes for a prolonged period, and have had difficulty staying focused."

Although the gender gap in English proficiency is widening globally, the proficiency of males and females in Hong Kong is relatively similar: 559 for males and 555 for females.

In contrast, the global gap continues to widen, with average male proficiency up 14 points compared to last year, while female proficiency has been declining by 19 points since 2014.

ivy.ong@singtaonewscorp.com