Teachers' union slams government plan to review liberal studies curriculum

A teachers' union has spoken out against a government plan to trim politics-related content in the secondary school liberal studies curriculum.

The Professional Teachers' Union yesterday criticised the government for intervening in the subject, suggesting the move could be related to the Occupy Central movement, which has involved many students. The union said that it would be "extremely foolish" of the government if it tried to blame the subject.

Tam Yiu-chung, chairman of the pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, yesterday said the government and DAB members had discussed adjusting the curriculum in an October 10 meeting. "It might not be enough to replace Chinese history with liberal studies. It's important for students to have a better knowledge of history," he said. Tam added that the government and the Education Bureau would decide how to adjust the subject.

The bureau said the curriculum review was ongoing and that results would be released in July.

But the teachers' union called on the government to stop any "unprofessional and abnormal" intervention in the curriculum.

Convenor of student group Scholarism, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, said: "It's very regrettable if the government wants to cut liberal studies ... If they want to cut it, it should be [done after] a consultation with the teachers.