New curriculum from 2025 part of push to create sense of national identity among schoolchildren<\/p>\n
Hong Kong is to introduce \u201cpatriotic\u201d education in all primary schools by 2025, in the government\u2019s latest push to \u201csystematically cultivate\u201d a sense of national identity among schoolchildren <\/p>\n
Under the new framework, primary school pupils are expected to learn about national security and will also be taught about the opium war and Japan\u2019s invasion of China, two key events in Beijing\u2019s narrative of a \u201ccentury of humiliation\u201d, which it pushes as a reason for nationalism.<\/p>\n
Students will also learn about significant Chinese historical figures and national achievements under the leadership of the Chinese Community party.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe enrichment aims to keep pace with the times and systematically cultivate students\u2019 sense of belonging to our country, national sentiments and sense of national identity from an early age for the implementation of patriotic education,\u201d an official document reads.<\/p>\n
The education bureau said the changes were made in line with national-level legislation that called for strengthening patriotic education in China. Mainland China maintains separate governing and economic system in Hong Kong but has gradually increased its control.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the education bureau announced the existing general studies curriculum in primary schools would be replaced with a new humanities curriculum by 2025. While the curriculum would contain general studies elements, such as health, citizenship and community, it would emphasise patriotic education, with new modules on national identity, national history and national security.<\/p>\n
Paul Lee Kin-wan, an education official overseeing curriculum development, said that patriotic values existed in the previous curriculum, and students should know about China\u2019s achievements. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be right if students know nothing about their country after six years of education,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n
Students are expected to spend 93 hours \u2013 about 7% of their time in primary school \u2013 on the new curriculum.<\/p>\n
Most of the suggested learning material came from government departments, including a short video about the legislative process of Hong Kong\u2019s national security law, with no mention of the mass protest movement that preceded its enactment.<\/p>\n
One veteran educator, who wished not to be named, said the curriculum seemed to emphasise national education over other components. \u201cAt that age, it is important to nurture good lifestyle and habits and students\u2019 curiosity about their surroundings,\u201d the educator said, adding that modules on students\u2019 relationships with their family, friends and neighbours took up far less space.<\/p>\n
While the curriculum highlights China\u2019s achievements, the educator said the government should make it clearer whether more sensitive topics, such as China\u2019s societal issues, could be discussed in class. \u201cChina has historical problems and existing ones. We need to face up to them for the country to progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more than a decade, the Hong Kong government had been trying to incorporate national and patriotic education into school curriculums. In 2012, a plan to introduce moral and national education in primary and secondary schools provoked mass class boycotts and protests, leading to it being temporary shelved.<\/p>\n