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Letters | Hong Kong schools: is gag on teachers a fair price to pay for stability?
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In her Hong Kong policy address delivered on November 25, Chief Executive Carrie Lam pledged to “enhance the quality of teachers through measures in respect of entry to the profession, training and management” and said she hoped teachers would become “the pillars of our country in safeguarding ‘one country, two systems’” (“As it happened: Hong Kong leader’s policy address vows to ‘relaunch city, rebuild trust’”, November 25).
This implies that to join the profession, would-be teachers must be nationalistic in outlook.
This is lamentable, but not surprising. The number of teachers and students involved in activism since the anti-extradition bill protests first began last year has been alarming.
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However, the new policy would be a further blow to the morale of teachers who are outspoken. Whether they are experienced or new to the profession, they need to be very careful, or penalties await.
It is likely that teachers will now focus on the passing on of knowledge instead of moral education. We can expect no talk of conscience whatsoever.
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How will the national security law change education in Hong Kong?
How will the national security law change education in Hong Kong?
Most teachers share the goal of helping to nurture youngsters into useful, discerning members of society, but I would hate to see our future generations just becoming IT-proficient and well-disciplined, but unable to tell true from false, right from wrong.
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