‘No political considerations’ behind Chinese history curriculum change, Hong Kong education chief says
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung says the point is to teach about city’s development in the context of the country’s history
There were no political considerations behind a Chinese history curriculum change for secondary schools that would do away with separate sections on the city’s past, Hong Kong’s education minister said on Saturday.
Speaking on a radio programme, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said the decision was made after feedback from teachers.
“There is absolutely no political consideration in it. Our current curriculum, which was launched in 1997, does not mention Hong Kong development,” he said, responding to accusations that the government aimed to quash thoughts of independence among young people amid a tide of separatism in recent years.
No separate sections on Hong Kong for new history curriculum, education authority says
“It is precisely because we think that we need to mention the development of Hong Kong in the context of the history of China that we proposed the curriculum reform, which is an improved one.
“It is not about scrapping the Hong Kong section in the curriculum. It is a teaching methodology that sets Hong Kong’s development against the backdrop of the country’s history,” Yeung said, adding that this would induce students’ interest in learning Chinese history.
We need to mention the development of Hong Kong in the context of the history of China
The revised curriculum guidelines were announced on Thursday, and would be implemented progressively in Form One, starting from September 2020 at the earliest.