A survey by the Hong Kong Christian Service found that 8.4 per cent of secondary students show signs of in-school hidden disengagement. The findings suggest around 28,000 students may be at risk of dropping out.
The Hong Kong Christian Service surveyed 1,958 students from Form One to Form Five between February and March. Students were asked about their perceptions of teachers' views on their academic performance, enjoyment of school life, friendships with same-sex peers and experiences of bullying in the past two months.
Those who gave negative responses to two to four indicators were classified as socially disengaged. The organisation described these students as invisible and called for early identification and support to prevent dropout.
The Hong Kong Christian Service provides services in schools across the city and urged better intervention for students showing dropout tendencies.
