Explain This | Why do Chinese history lessons get a bad reputation in Hong Kong?
While Beijing blames youth separatist ideas on a shoddy understanding of Chinese history, parents and teachers fear ‘brainwashing’ and an allusion to the city’s past being less important than China’s
Call it a hot potato of a subject, for anyone who touches it risks being accused of being either a revisionist or overly conservative.
On Monday, Hong Kong’s Education Bureau launched the second round of consultation on a revised Chinese history curriculum for junior secondary school students.
The subject has always been controversial because of simmering anti-mainland sentiment, with some Beijing officials believing a poor understanding of Chinese history the reason for the spread of separatist sentiments among the city’s youth.
Hong Kong’s pro-independence sentiments not ‘directly linked’ to schools, says city’s education chief
As part of the revised curriculum, students will spend more time learning about China’s contemporary history and Hong Kong’s development over the years.
1. What is Chinese history curriculum reform all about?
In December 2013, the government formed a committee to review the Chinese history curriculum for junior secondary school pupils. The current curriculum has been used for two decades.
The review was aimed at enhancing pupils’ understanding of China’s history and development, strengthening their sense of belonging to the country.