Educators should also look after children's mental well-being rather just focusing on their grades as learning returns to normal after the pandemic, a University of Hong Kong scholar said on Saturday.

Paul Yip made the call after the university's Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention surveyed to more than 6,000 secondary school pupils at the end of 2021, and found that the mental health of 30 percent of them had become worse during Covid.

Yip, who is the director of the centre, said schools should give pupils more time to rebuild their relationships with fellow classmates and teachers.

"When we are so-called back to normal, we wouldn't be surprised some of the students might have difficulties in expressing themselves, and also in building up a meaningful and engaging relationship," Yip told RTHK.

"I hope schools can take their time to not simply put emphasis on their academic development, but also their mental wellness," he said.

This also included their relationships, he said.