Liberal studies debate traps Hong Kong students in political combat zone
Compulsory for Hongkongers looking to enter university, the course has been caught in the cross hairs of an ongoing debate on what youngsters should learn in school
To third-year journalism student Degas Chan Pui-chung, liberal studies was “the most useful and diverse” subject he took in secondary school.
The coursework and classroom discussions covered the make-up of Hong Kong society, the city’s system of governance and the rule of law, such as the option for residents to request judicial reviews of court decisions.
“It was helpful in understanding society and things around me,” the 22-year-old said, adding the subject provided him with a good foundation for his studies at Hang Seng Management College.
Like Chan, youngsters and educators alike have given positive feedback about liberal studies – a compulsory subject since 2009 to expose senior secondary school students to issues of significance at home and globally, and foster critical thinking skills.
An Education Bureau survey in 2014 found 82 per cent of Secondary Six graduates agreed liberal studies enhanced their ability to think from multidimensional perspectives, while 80 per cent said the subject increased their awareness of society.
