A three-day sister-school exchange activity between Hou Kong Middle School (Primary Section) and Shenzhen Shekou Yucai Education Group Yucai No. 2 Primary School concluded on May 29.
Chan Pou Sin, vice principal of Hou Kong Middle School, told the Post he hoped the event would allow students to gain insight into the learning attitudes and mindsets of their peers in the Chinese mainland, bringing a positive influence.
According to the Education and Youth Development Bureau’s (DSEDJ) website, the Sister School Exchange Programme has long served as a vital link for regional educational collaboration, fostering friendly relations between schools in Macau, the mainland, and other countries.
Chan added that during this year’s Sister School Exchange Programme, the most memorable moment was the cooking competition. Grade 4 students participated in flame-free cooking, while Grade 5 students joined peers from Yucai students to participate in the open-flame cooking competition. Chan said he believes this was highly meaningful for primary students to develop their education on a hard work-orientated spirit (勞動教育). Chan said he hopes that contacts between both schools can be deepened across more subjects to promote mutual growth in the future.
Two Hou Kong students, Foo Wan Yi and Si Ka I, told the Post that the classroom atmosphere became livelier after the Yucai students joined them. Their highlight was visiting the Macau Grand Prix Museum together to play VR games. They observed that the Yucai students remained highly focused in class, studying diligently even when they could not understand Cantonese. Fu said she hopes to treat her Shenzhen friends to Macau’s specialty pork jerky (known as “bak kwa” – 肉干 – in southern Fujianese) in the future, while Si hopes to visit Xiamen for future exchanges.
Two Hou Kong teachers, Ng Wo Cheng and Chong Weng I, spoke about their classroom observations over the three days. Ng noted that Hou Kong students demonstrated high levels of initiative and active engagement during English language lessons. She added that although the Yucai students only start learning English in Grade 3, they were very hard-working in class and supported one another. Ng also praised the Yucai teachers for using open-ended questions, which helped students express themselves confidently.
Chong observed that the Yucai students possess a strong foundation in Chinese cultural literacy. Chong said that this has inspired her to encourage Hou Kong students to speak up more boldly. Differences in teaching materials between Macau and Shenzhen also became a focal point for discussion, helping to broaden students’ horizons.
Students from the Yucai No. 2 Primary School also gave their thoughts. Huang Shuyao said the Hou Kong pupils were very active and friendly, with the whole class eagerly raising their hands to speak. Huang’s fellow student, surnamed Zheng, said her most memorable moment was when her Macau friend stayed by her side to comfort her when she felt sad.
Li Moru, a sixth-grade student, thanked her Hou Kong friend for patiently translating Cantonese and explaining traditional Chinese characters. The pair became close friends through their shared love of drawing. Meanwhile, a student named Wu Xinran said she plans to invite her Macau friend to Shenzhen to experience water sports.
Yucai teachers also spoke highly of the exchange. Chen Meijun, a maths teacher, praised the campus for embodying cultural immersion and a people-centred educational philosophy. Zhang Yiming, a Chinese-language teacher, observed that while the pace of lessons in Macau is slower, the students are focused and clear in their thinking. Li Juan, another Chinese-language teacher, commended the Macau students for being polite and well-disciplined, expressing hope that the two schools could co-develop specialised courses in the future.
Lau Ying, director of Yucai’s academic affairs, believes that both Yucai and Hou Kong can complement each other’s educational strengths, recommending regular exchange visits. She also suggested launching dual-teacher classroom instruction co-taught by teachers from Yucai and Hou Kong.
Hou Kong student Su Pak Wang’s mother, surnamed Si, told the Post that her child has become more cheerful and talkative since the exchange. Previously shy, her child now takes the initiative to make new friends. Si also said she believes that the activity successfully broadened her child’s horizons, calling it a valuable experience for the students’ development.
“Yucai” means “nurturing talent”. Hou Kong (“oyster river”) is one of Macau’s ancient names.
Hou Kong Middle School (primary section) and Shenzhen Shekou Yucai Education Group Yucai No. 2 Primary School students pose at the Macau Grand Prix Museum (MPGM) on May 28. – Photos courtesy of Hou Kong Middle School
