Educators on investigation tour
More than 400 education professionals from Hong Kong and Macau are to head to Beijing next week on a five-day tour to coincide with national day celebrations.
Jointly organised by the Education and Manpower Bureau and the Ministry of Education, the delegation includes more than 380 Hong Kong teachers and is believed to be the largest of its kind ever to visit the capital.
'There have been many similar delegations in the past but never one as large as this or with such wide coverage,' said Benjamin Yung Po-shu, EMB principal educational officer for curriculum development.
The educators are to visit primary and secondary schools and kindergartens to investigate the teaching of national education on the mainland and meet with senior members of the central government.
'They will meet with some national leaders and very high-level figures in the Ministry of Education,' Mr Yung said.
Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun will accompany the tour for part of the trip, in the capacity of honorary advisor.
Mr Yung said one of the key aims was to promote a more comprehensive, inclusive approach to the teaching of national education.
'In the nine years since the handover, we have been consistently pushing national education,' he said. 'But there is still a need for fuller penetration.'
The delegation departs on Thursday evening.
