National element a 'priority' in tweaking HK's education system

Steps are being implemented to raise a generation of patriots who can carry forward the principle of 'one country, two systems'. Oasis Hu reports from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's education chief is leaving no stone unturned in her efforts to bring the "national" concept into the city's education system, starting with the youngest students, by recalibrating the curriculum and instituting more rituals for them to appreciate the country, as well as engaging parents in the process.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Christine Choi Yuk-lin, secretary for education for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said national education is high on her agenda during her 5-year term. This will help realize the lofty goals set by President Xi Jinping during his inspection tour of the SAR in July to mark the 25th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland.

"We aim to raise a generation of patriots who can carry forward the cause of 'one country, two systems'," said Choi.

Her pledge resonates with Xi's remarks that Hong Kong's governing power should be kept firmly in the hands of patriots - a key factor in guaranteeing the city's continued stability and prosperity.

The local electoral system was revamped to implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" following the 2019 social unrest, which stoked criticisms that the city's education system lacked national education elements. Hong Kong has since rolled out various measures to rectify these problems.

Greater efforts have been made to improve students' understanding of the country, such as the holding of regular flag-raising ceremonies, particularly on important days, having discussions about the Constitution and Hong Kong's Basic Law, strengthening national security education, and incorporating elements of Chinese history and culture into the curriculum.

Since Jan 1, 2022, all primary and secondary schools must conduct national flag-raising ceremonies on significant occasions, such as the HKSAR's establishment anniversary on July 1 and National Day on Oct 1.

Choi said all these efforts have paid off, with children from kindergartens and primary schools now rising to sing the national anthem whenever they hear it broadcast on television.

"These rituals are necessary and have to be further promoted in schools," she said. "As a result, students can better understand Hong Kong's close bonds with the motherland from a historical perspective. These ceremonies also remind our young people of the symbolic significance of the country's five-star red flag and the national anthem, as well as the hardships the Chinese nation has gone through."

"We've spent years doubling down on our efforts to cultivate students' affection for the country, and we've seen obvious improvements with students having acquired a better understanding of the nation," said Choi. "But, we won't stop here."

Another key development has been the introduction of new guidelines on the professional conduct of teachers.

These guidelines were published by the Education Bureau at the end of 2022. Many teachers were involved in the 2019 social unrest and encouraged students to join the street protests that brought Hong Kong to a virtual halt. With the new guidelines in place, "red lines" that teachers must not cross have been established, and various activities they must not engage in have been listed.

Teachers are prohibited from instilling misleading or incorrect concepts in students. They are also required to abide by the law, keep campuses safe, and provide a healthy and harmonious learning environment for students, said Choi.

Teachers found to have violated the guidelines will be penalized, with penalties ranging from being given a warning or reprimand to being stripped of their professional teaching registration, depending on the seriousness of the case.

Starting from the current school year, newly appointed regular teachers in all public-sector schools are also required to pass the Basic Law Test, which covers the city's Basic Law and the National Security Law for Hong Kong. The test will be extended to all directly-subsidized schools and kindergartens this year.

In addition, teachers are requested to undergo training, participate in seminars and take courses on national security, Choi said.

New teachers in public-sector schools, or schools under the direct subsidy scheme, also need to complete 30 hours of core training within 3 years, while teachers aspiring for promotion must complete 30 hours of core training within 5 years before they can be promoted. In-service teachers are required to receive 150 hours of training in 3 years to get a better understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law for Hong Kong.

For kindergarten pupils, the SAR government has allocated a grant of HK$60 million ($7.7 million) for those joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme to organize Chinese cultural activities from this school year, to help them develop a sense of national identity at an early age.

Choi noted that many kindergartens had previously held similar activities for kids, such as eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, wearing traditional Chinese costumes, or celebrating the Spring Festival together. The grant will provide more resources for kindergartens to expand their activities to get better results.

According to Choi, all publicly-funded schools must organize one or more activities relating to national education for parents annually. The Education Bureau will keep track of the number of events organized by schools and observe their effectiveness from this year.

Contact the writer at oasishu@chinadailyhk.com