When a tragedy happens, we look up from our phones, shake our heads and wonder how it came to this. Then, often too quickly, we scroll on. However, some events refuse to be dismissed so easily.
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The recent incident in which a teacher died after falling from the rooftop at a primary school in Sai Kung has sent a wave of sorrow and discomfort through Hong Kong’s education community. It’s a wake-up call we can’t afford to ignore.
Teaching has always been more than a job. It’s the unseen engine of society, shaping the future, one child at a time. But what happens when the engine begins to break down? We expect teachers to be counsellors, content creators, administrators, career advisers, event planners and, occasionally, referees. And yet, for all the roles they juggle, who is really looking out for them?
It’s tempting to see such tragedies as isolated or unexplainable, but that would be a mistake. The pressures our teachers face are very real and mounting. The job insecurity brought on by declining student enrolment and potential school closures is no longer just a bureaucratic issue; it’s a source of daily anxiety.
In schools under pressure to “perform” and recruit students, educators – especially in under-enrolled schools – are expected to wear many hats. Teachers have described it as being asked to teach all day, then spend your evenings marketing the school as if your livelihood depends on it. In many cases, it does.
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Overworked to death: Japanese teachers battle for change as several die from exhaustion
Overworked to death: Japanese teachers battle for change as several die from exhaustion
Add to this the emotional labour of supporting students with growing mental health needs, the burden of compliance with ever-changing education policies and a culture that still frowns on openly discussing emotional struggles, and you have a silent crisis. Society tells teachers to be resilient yet offers little meaningful support.