Youth Outreach estimates 20,000 potential school dropouts in Hong Kong

Youth Outreach, a crisis intervention center for Hong Kong youth, estimated that there are around 20,000 primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong potentially dropping out of school early.

According to the Education Bureau, schools are required to report to the authorities if a primary or secondary student is absent for a 7th consecutive school day.

A recent study conducted by Youth Outreach has identified a group of students who frequently skip classes, although not necessarily for seven consecutive days, labeling them as "potential dropouts”, while those who are absent for seven days or more in a row are categorized by the as "high-risk dropouts."

The group highlighted that the reasons behind student dropouts are multifaceted, involving personal, school, and family-related factors.

Identifying and reaching out to students facing potential dropout issues pose challenges, as they often cite reasons like illness or family problems for their absences, making it difficult for frontline workers to ascertain whether they are truly at risk of dropping out and hence providing necessary support, it said.

The group said since November 2020, it has been promoting Project Cool Teen to assist students aged 10 to 18 who are potential or high-risk dropouts.

The project aims to reignite their interest and motivation in learning while enhancing their problem-solving skills and equipping them with life skills.

To date, the project has served over 400 individuals, including 75 percent of them being “high-risk dropouts. They have either continued their studies or entered the workforce, it added.