Hong Kong to rename liberal studies and require students visit mainland China
April 01, 2021
Original Article: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3111509/hong-kong-education-chief-unveils-wide-reaching-reforms
Hong Kong will rename the liberal studies programme taught to older students and require they visit mainland China as part of wide-reaching reforms to the controversial subject.
The subject would also be marked as a simple pass or fail, parts of the syllabus trimmed and all textbooks subjected to vetting, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said on Thursday.
The sweeping changes would be implemented by the next academic year at the earliest but a detailed timeline and the new name were not yet available, Yeung added.
Some educators expressed concern over the reforms, noting certain changes were contrary to recommendations made by a task force in a three-year review of the subject.
But the head of the task force told the Post she “understood” the government’s considerations and she believed officials had still adopted most of its suggestions, including keeping the subject mandatory.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor highlighted the need for reforming liberal studies in the policy address she delivered on Wednesday. The subject had deviated from its original objective and should teach students about the development of China, the constitution and the rule of law, she told lawmakers. In announcing the details, Yeung said current students would follow the existing grading system and syllabus for now.
Related Articles: