The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams have already begun, and many students are giving their all to their studies. In fact, the Education Bureau has a dedicated webpage for Secondary 6 students (https://s6.edb.edcity.hk/en/index.php), which offers more than just further education information. It features a "Cheer-up Zone" with encouraging videos recorded by friends from all walks of life for this year’s candidates. Its Chinese version offers "2026 DSE Encouragement Stickers" to boost students' spirits. Hong Kong Education City has Cheer-Up Station for fellow DSE students and we wish to give parents heartfelt cheers.
Many parents choose to accompany their children to the exam centers, offering support through their actions, yet they often feel conflicted deep down. Out of care and concern, parents may ask about study progress, which can inadvertently add invisible pressure and leave children feeling frustrated for fear of falling short of expectations. If a child is already in a bad mood, a simple, well-intentioned word of concern might even trigger an emotional outburst and disrupt their revision rhythm. However, if parents remain completely silent, it can feel cold and indifferent. It seems that asking a question is wrong, yet not asking is also wrong.
A social worker once shared that "food" is one of the best icebreakers for parent-child communication. For instance, simple asking children, "are you hungry?" or "would you like some snacks?" can be far more effective than asking, "how is your studying going?". “Food” is a good topic to allow parents to express care to children while avoiding the pressure of sounding like a "boss" monitoring a subordinate's progress.
If parents are worried about saying the wrong thing, the "How to Say It" AI feature in the Hong Kong Education City Parent App (https://parent.edcity.hk/en/resource/13369/) may offer help. The app will assist parents to refine their wording and better communicate their thoughts. We encourage parents to download the app and try.
EdCity would also like to provide a brief introduction to the rich content of the Education Bureau’s S6 Information Portal, including the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS), applications for degree/sub-degree programs, Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET), the Diploma of Applied Education, Further Studies on the Chinese mainland or abroad, employment information, and relevant reference materials etc. Students and parents can also find details about Information Days for various universities and tertiary institutes. The page is a practical portal for novice DSE Parents. After browsing the page, parents may discover that the pathways to further education are incredibly diverse, with a vast array of courses available. It is conservatively estimated that there are at least a thousand options in Hong Kong, which may satisfy the career development needs of every student.
