Smaller school cohort has many benefits

I refer to the letter “Open more spots at schools with falling cohorts to foreign students” (March 7).

Rather than merging schools, would it not be better to have a smaller cohort for teachers to concentrate on?

A smaller class means more participation opportunities for students. It encourages individuals to voice out one’s concerns or opinions in class. This allows students to speak up and improve their public-speaking skills.

Besides, with a smaller class size, teachers can help more students who require more attention in class.

Having a smaller overall cohort also means that students can help one another and develop interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, and bond more closely with one another as a school.

In terms of facilities, with a smaller cohort, it means more opportunities for more students to use the different facilities in the school.

Another alternative is to combine preschools, primary schools and secondary schools together.