National education needs cool heads
The Occupy protests may be over, but the city continues to be preoccupied by soul searching. Of all the views heard, nothing fuels more unease than criticism from Beijing. Following a call by a top mainland official that the city needed "re-enlightenment" on the "one country, two systems" concept, Hong Kong has been told to also consider the national interest when formulating education policies. The education chief has also been reminded that he is subject to the "supervision" of the central government.
That Beijing has conveyed its discontent with our education system through a former official is discomforting, but unsurprising. Chen Zuoer , now head of a policy think tank, held education chief Eddie Ng Hak-kim and other stakeholders responsible for the Occupy mayhem. In response, Ng said principal officials served Hong Kong under the Basic Law and the "one country, two systems" concept.
Whether the civil-disobedience movement had anything to do with education policy is a matter for debate. Sparked by Beijing's restrictions on electoral reforms, the street blockades drew students and adults alike. It is believed Occupy was a culmination of grievances over deep-seated problems. But the concerns over our youngsters are not entirely unjustified. The students were at the forefront throughout the 79-day protests. They disregarded the central government's perspective on the reform framework. From Beijing's point of view, the students lack patriotism and understanding of the national interest.
Whether national education would have led to a different outcome is anybody's guess. But the criticisms against the education sector show Beijing is keen to see the curriculum revamped in Hong Kong schools. Like it or not, the city can expect a more hands-on approach from Beijing to its affairs.
Basic Law article 136 stipulates that the city has a free hand in education. For those who put "two systems" above "one country", Chen's comments amount to a breach of autonomy. But for Beijing, patriotism and national identity are "one country" issues, and it is only fair for the government to beef up work in such areas. National education itself is not wrong. The question is how to go about it. The experience from 2012 shows that there were fears of pupils being brainwashed. The chief executive's policy address last week stopped short of revisiting national education. Officials should be more sensitive to people's feelings should it be re-introduced one day.