CE shelves national education guidelines after panel report
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said on Monday that he would not withdraw the national education course, but would shelve the course guidelines that concern many Hongkongers.
After months of controversy, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced on Monday afternoon that he would not withdraw the national education course, but would shelve the course guidelines that concern many Hongkongers.
Dismissing calls for a complete withdrawal of the subject, Leung accepted Monday’s recommendations by a government-appointed committee that the course was important and should be taught in schools.
Since schools were free to decide independently whether to teach the course, there was no need to withdraw it, he said.
“I announce the government accepts the committee’s view that moral, national and civil education is an important part of education. Therefore, it is a matter of course that students study the subject,” Leung said.
His latest announcement was in line with his U-turn of September 8, when he announced that the course would not be compulsory.
“I thank the committee for supporting the major policy change the government made on September 8,” Leung said on Monday. “This policy change allows schools and sponsoring bodies to decide whether to teach the subject, when to teach it and how to teach it. I agree with the committee’s conclusion that there is no need to withdraw the subject.”
Leung was speaking at a press conference after the Committee on the Implementation of Moral and National Education held its third and final meeting to discuss the issue.