The number of schools in Hong Kong which held flag-raising ceremonies to mark National Day falls to a 10-year-low
- Only 56 per cent of 204 schools polled held the event on October 1, down from 79 per cent in 2018
- Some education experts say schools should decide for themselves whether they want to resume the flag-raising ceremonies
Only about half of the more than 200 schools polled held flag-raising ceremonies on National Day on October 1, the lowest since the annual survey started 10 years ago.
The Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, which conducted the survey, also said about 60 per cent of schools said they would reduce the number of student exchange programmes to mainland China, while some 21 per cent would consider singing the national anthem less frequently during assemblies.
Among the 204 polled schools - 66 secondary, 78 primary schools and 60 kindergartens - only 56 per cent said the flag-raising ceremony was held on National Day this year, compared with 79 per cent last year and 86 in 2017.
Fifteen per cent of the respondents said they did not hold any celebration activities at all, and 5 per cent of all those polled said they were worried that such events would bring adverse effects.
This is a worrying trend
He said they respected the schools’ decision because of the special political situation this year.
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung advised schools on September 21 that events celebrating National Day should go on as planned, but some principals still decided to cancel the flag-raising ceremony, or broadcast the live event in classrooms, to prevent students from protesting.
Teddy Tang Chun-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools, told the Post on Wednesday that schools should be allowed to assess the political situation and make their own decisions.
“Back in September and October, students’ emotions and reactions were very unstable. In recent weeks, political tensions have somewhat eased in schools,” he said, adding that his secondary school in Tin Shui Wai would resume flag-raising ceremonies in November.
Fung Wai-wah, president of the Professional Teachers’ Union, argued that flag-raising ceremonies did not add much value to students’ education.
“It’s an activity outside the academic syllabus and is not mandatory by the Education Bureau. So, schools should have the right to decide whether they want to do it or not,” Fung added.
An Education Bureau spokesman said schools had a responsibility to cultivate students’ national identity, and flag raising was one of the activities that could enhance the awareness.
“From an educational point of view, there is no reason for any internal political controversies in the city to affect the education sector to cultivate students’ sense of national identity.”
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Wu said he hoped the government could allocate more funds and manpower for schools to conduct activities for students to understand the mainland, such as cultural immersion programmes, and cross-subject seminars on the Greater Bay Area development project.
Flag-raising ceremonies at schools have become politically sensitive this year as the city grapples with its worst political crisis in decades. Protesters have defaced and burned national flags since demonstrations began in June over the now-withdrawn extradition bill. Students all over the city have formed human chains and build “Lennon Walls” to express their political views since the academic year began in September.
