Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

0:00
0:00

Controversy over HK’s liberal studies textbooks

Authorities said there were concerns that radical teachers and biased teaching materials would adversely affect students and spread hate and prejudice. Teacher Tin Fong-chak worried the “consultation service” was another way to scrutinize what to teach, which will affect freedom of discussion on the campus.
Seven Hong Kong publishers have participated in an advisory service provided by the Education Bureau to review liberal studies textbooks amid public concern over quality and political bias. The move came after former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa blamed the subject for making Hong Kong’s young people more radical and for the violent protests over the fugitive bill saga, while other pro-establishment lawmakers earlier suggested canceling the subject as mandatory in the Diploma of Secondary Education exam, which is the university entrance exam in the city. The education sector urged the bureau to fully explain the new service or else it could be seen as a political intervention in the current political situation by scrutinizing the textbook’s content. On Monday, Deputy Secretary for Education Hong Chan Tsui-wah wrote in the bureau’s blog that there have been concerns over radical teachers and biased teaching materials – especially those on liberal studies – and that they will adversely affect students and spread hate and prejudice. Hong said the bureau fully understood the public concern. They decided to bring in a professional consultation service for publishers to “improve the quality” of the existing material published in liberal studies’ textbooks. Hong said the consultation service was a consensus between the bureau and Hong Kong Association of Professional Education Publishing. A spokesperson from the bureau said the group was formed by academia, special subject inspectors and educators, but no name list was provided, the Ming Pao Daily reported. Liberal studies has been a compulsory subject since 2009 for Hong Kong senior secondary school students to expose them to issues of significance in Hong Kong and the world and foster critical thinking skills. It is a compulsory subject for students looking to enter local universities. Unlike other subjects, the bureau does not scrutinize reference materials for liberal studies. Publishers still print and sell the reference materials as textbooks. But it was understood that teachers in general tend to use their own teaching materials and the textbooks are used for reference only. The bureau said publishers who send their textbooks for review have to agree to follow up the recommendations from the bureau seriously. The bureau’s websites showed seven publishers have participated in the service and they hoped to finish and revise the textbooks by the end of the ongoing school year. Those who participated in the advisory service would be named on the bureau’s “textbook list.” Ip Kin-yuen, the education sector lawmaker and chief executive of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union said they don’t know the nature of the so-called professional consultation service. He questioned if the submissions were truly voluntary and who would be responsible for providing suggestions and the standards on offering such opinions. Veteran liberal studies teacher Cheung Yui-fai said the bureau should believe in the professionalism of teachers when they prepare teaching materials and no consultation service was needed. Teacher Tin Fong-chak said liberal studies was a subject with an open and diversified approach. Publishers have been doing well to decide on their own the selection of content based on the education bureau curriculum framework, even the viewpoints that the government may not agree with, Apple Daily reported. He worried the “consultation service” was another way to scrutinize what to teach, which will affect freedom of discussion on the campus.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×