Releasing the poll findings ahead of Children's Day today, the Society for Community Organization said children in poverty lack learning devices due to the poor financial situation in their families and peer interaction as their parents cannot afford extra-curriculum classes.

SOCO said 51,300 of 242,400 Hong Kong children aged between three and six, or 21 percent, lived in poverty in 2020.

Authorities in February announced an unprecedented "early summer holiday" from last month to after Easter for all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, which SOCO said has greatly disrupted students' learning progress.

The poll of 164 grassroot parents was taken between February and last month and 82 percent of them said their children's schools did not provide any support to the students.

Deputy director Sze Lai-shan said it is necessary for authorities to provide special support services for e-learning, students' emotions, learning difficulties and the interpersonal development of young children.

More than 40 percent of the respondents said they lack access devices. Nearly half said that they do not have a computer with internet access at home, and 40 percent do not have a computer.

"This showed the importance of computer equipment for online learning has not received the attention of the authorities and the general public," Sze said.

About 75 percent were most worried about their kids not being able to keep up with learning while 67.7 percent said they lack effective teaching methods and skills.

More than 41 percent said they prefer to save money by finding reference materials for teaching courses online and 20 percent said they'd rather enroll their children for classes at their own expense.

More than 20 percent said they had zero income during Covid outbreaks while another 18 percent said they earn HK$10,000 or less a month.

"The median monthly household income from work was HK$12,750, which was about 50 percent below the poverty line or zero income," SOCO said.