14 DAY TRIAL // At the age other children still struggle to learn how to read, write and count, a Chinese-Indonesian boy from Hong Kong finds university classes boring.
His first lesson "was too easy. I learnt it two years ago," said March Tian Boedihardjo, 9-year-old, after attending the lecture on mathematical analysis at Hong Kong Baptist University.
When the little genius was asked what the class was about, he argued: "You would not understand that since you don't even know those terms."
He complained his classmates did not socialize with him. "They didn't talk to me. They only listened [to the lecture] and did not chat with each other."
The little genius was admitted to a five-year undergraduate and master's program in math by the university in August after achieving an A in both math and further math and a B in statistics in the General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-levels in the UK. He has also attended courses in Oxford.
The Hong Kong University's decision to accept him had triggered a vivid debate on whether such a young child could build social bonds with the older students and get accustomed to campus life.
March is usually accompanied by his father, who carries his school bag and raincoat and will attend his son's lessons for the first six months.
The boy has a tough schedule: a math class at 8:30 am, followed by a two-hour Spanish class at 11:30 am. He was excited getting into university as he had the opportunity of studying math.
But unlike at the press conference held in August to announce his admission, the boy did not look relaxed but rather impatient and annoyed when meeting the media, continually asking his father if he could leave.
The little genius was confident that the campus life would not cause him any problems and stated he preferred Hong Kong. "Life in the United Kingdom was boring. I only studied every day and could not play," he said.
"I attempted to greet March. But he did not respond. He was surrounded by his father and university staff. He was too shy," said boy's schoolmate Janice Yim, a translation major.
"He introduced himself in Spanish. He was eager to express himself and chat with the teacher," said Fion Wong, a fellow student in the Spanish class, impressed by March.
Extra security staff on the campus impeded reporters from sneaking into the classrooms.
"We are confident that March will be nurtured well as we will allocate extra resources to help the child with his social skills and a tailor-made curriculum. We will adjust the curriculum if he finds it too easy. He is very impressive. He is still a child, but speaks in an orderly and logical manner," said University president Ng Ching-fai.
Still, too much media pressure could affect the child.
"The pressure will affect his studies and annoy his schoolmates," said Ng.
"I feared March would find the syllabus too easy, but I will not change the syllabus for the sake of one or two students," said maths department associate professor Chiu Sung-nok, who teaches statistics.