Liberal studies is letting us down
The new HKDSE subject, liberal studies, aims to enhance our critical thinking skills. But there's a question: is it effective enough to achieve that?
According to a recent news item, liberal studies is a failure. A Secondary Six student told a reporter he prepared for the subject by reciting definitions of key terms. He also just memorised his answers for the exam.
Why did he do that? Because that's what he was expected to do.
'It is impossible for students to get good results on this subject if they do not recite suggested answers,' he said. He went on to point out that the subject served to enhance students' rote learning skills, not their analytical abilities.
As I also have to learn liberal studies, I agree with the student.
The subject makes for unique marking systems, with different teachers endorsing different views. That may be quite unfair to us.