THE IDEAL CANNOT be faulted. Liberal studies, one of the most radical elements in the proposed senior secondary curriculum, aims at nothing less than the 'liberation of young minds'.
Key issues about understanding ourselves, China and our place in the world will be taught through debate, independent study and research.
But the subject is already stimulating its own fierce debate: whether it should be included as a compulsory subject in the new curriculum or not, and how it can be successfully delivered.
Liberal studies as envisaged in the blueprint released by the Curriculum Development Council and Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority last month involves a revolution in teaching style.
'There is no intention to provide students with sets of fixed factual knowledge, but rather to encourage students to appreciate the complexity of the contemporary world and to develop critical thinking skills,' the document states.
Issues chosen should embody competing views and values that stimulate discussion and reflection - which amounts to a revolution in teaching from the traditional talk and chalk approach that rigidly defines right and wrong answers.