Every child should have an equal opportunity in life. In an internet-driven age, an important part of this means having sufficient computer and broadband access. Poverty means that this is not the case for thousands of Hong Kong students. The government should make amends in the upcoming budget.
Teachers increasingly rely on the internet for homework, providing information and communication. Students without access from home are at a disadvantage. Their only way to meet their obligations is through the help of friends or by using the limited-time resources at school, in public libraries or provided free in places such as shopping malls. Since screen-based work often takes several hours a day, assignments are invariably rushed, inadequately researched and, in some instances, incomplete or not handed in.
Second-hand computers are readily available for minimal or no cost through community projects. But broadband does not come so easily; private telecommunications companies provide home connections and service, and they are not charities. Their fees are negligible to most of us but out of reach for about 12,560 primary and secondary school students whose parents cannot afford them.
The inequality of internet access means a considerable number of children are unnecessarily falling behind their peers at school. That they are from the poorest part of society is lamentable. All students should have a chance to excel no matter what their background. They must have equal access to the tools to thrive and grow academically. Most jobs are advertised on the internet and many applications have to be made online using an e-mail address.
The inequality of internet access means a considerable number of children are unnecessarily falling behind their peers at school. That they are from the poorest part of society is lamentable. All students should have a chance to excel no matter what their background. They must have equal access to the tools to thrive and grow academically. Most jobs are advertised on the internet and many applications have to be made online using an e-mail address.
Ensuring home broadband access would not be financially debilitating for the government. Whichever way it is attained - a voucher system, subsidy or as part of welfare - there must be enough financial support for upkeep and long-term running costs. Education is essential to our city's future and to nurturing our best resource: people. Internet access is part of education today, and it, like schooling, should be available to all students.
每個小孩生命中都應有相同的機會.在一個被網絡驅趕的年代,這其中一個重要部份是有足夠的電腦和寬頻獲得. 貧窮導致這不是數千香港學童的情況. 政府應該在新財政預算裡作出補償.
教師們越來越多地倚賴互聯網在功課上,給予資料和溝通. 家裡沒有上網的學生係身處不利位置. 他們要履行他們的義務惟有透過朋友幫忙或在學校、公眾圖書館使用有時間限制的資源或像商場的地方免費上網. 因為要上網做的功課總是要一日花幾個完成, 功課總係匆忙,沒充足作資料搜集, 和在某些例子中, 不完整或未能提交.
二手電腦可透過社區計劃以低價錢或免費來容易得到. 但寬頻則不會那麼容易出售. 私人電訊公司提供家庭連接和服務, 而他們不是慈善機構. 上網費對我們大部份人都是微不足道,但對12560個父母負擔不起的中小學生,卻是遙不可及.
網絡的獲得上的不公平導致有相當大的小孩子是不需要地落後於他們在學校的同輩. 可悲的是他們是來自社會最窮的部份. 所有學生都應有機會去勝出,無論他們的背景怎樣. 他們應有相同的途徑到學術上興旺和成長的工具.大多數工作都在網上作宣傳, 而很多申請都要用電郵地來網上做.
確保家庭寬頻獲得不會令政府財政上疲弱. 無論以何種方式它被獲得-學劵,津貼或福利一部分-那一定要有足夠財政支持作保養和長期的營運費. 教育對我們城市的未來和發展我們最好的資源-人, 都是重要的. 上網是今日教育的一部份, 而它, 像學校教育一樣, 應讓所有學生可獲得的.
確保家庭寬頻獲得不會令政府財政上疲弱. 無論以何種方式它被獲得-學劵,津貼或福利一部分-那一定要有足夠財政支持作保養和長期的營運費. 教育對我們城市的未來和發展我們最好的資源-人, 都是重要的. 上網是今日教育的一部份, 而它, 像學校教育一樣, 應讓所有學生可獲得的.
Note:
1. internet-driven: Drive係驅趕, internet-driven即我地好似被internet去驅趕咁.
2. mean: 可解導致.
3. make amends: 係一對字, 解「作出補償」.
4. at a disadvantage: 即無咁著數.
5. obligation: 責任. 履行責任係meet the obligations, 或fulfill the obligations.
6. invariably:總是
7. rushed:匆忙的
8. readily available: 容易得到.
9. project: 這個字大家都很熟悉. 一個意思係計劃, 另一個意思係學生做的專題研究.
10. come: 解「出售」．
11. negligible: 微不足道
12. out of reach: 本身指觸摸不到, 引申為遙不可及
13. considerable: 相當大的
14. lamentable:可悲的
15. excel: 字典解勝出. 其實即成功.
16. no matter what: 即無論什麼. 後面加個名詞如no matter what background即變成「無論什麼背景」.可以不加is.
17. application: collocation個動詞係make. 即make an application.
18. debilitate: 使疲弱.
19.attain: 得到.
20. upkeep and running costs: upkeep係保養,即maintenance, running costs係營運費, 是一個字. 記住cost後有s, 因為是plural noun.
21. essential:可解很重要的, 或基本的.
22. nurture: 可解培育, 也解發展. 視乎配什麼名詞.
9. project: 這個字大家都很熟悉. 一個意思係計劃, 另一個意思係學生做的專題研究.
10. come: 解「出售」．
11. negligible: 微不足道
12. out of reach: 本身指觸摸不到, 引申為遙不可及
13. considerable: 相當大的
14. lamentable:可悲的
15. excel: 字典解勝出. 其實即成功.
16. no matter what: 即無論什麼. 後面加個名詞如no matter what background即變成「無論什麼背景」.可以不加is.
17. application: collocation個動詞係make. 即make an application.
18. debilitate: 使疲弱.
19.attain: 得到.
20. upkeep and running costs: upkeep係保養,即maintenance, running costs係營運費, 是一個字. 記住cost後有s, 因為是plural noun.
21. essential:可解很重要的, 或基本的.
22. nurture: 可解培育, 也解發展. 視乎配什麼名詞.
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