Hong Kong teachers planning to police themselves when it comes to sensitive topics and the national security law
- Questions remain over what will be acceptable in classrooms, and teachers say they are already deciding to change their approach to subjects such as the Tiananmen crackdown and social issues in mainland China
- ‘The risks and pressure for teachers have ballooned … I believe many teachers’ bottom line is whether they will be able to retain any autonomy in classrooms,’ says one teacher
Teachers spoke to the Post about their cautious approach, while Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung revealed in an interview with a mainland media platform that all primary and secondary schools would be given a set of 48 books to boost pupils’ national identity. The books, to be handed out next month, will illustrate national development and culture, and discuss topics such as landscape, infrastructure and festivals.
The set of books, titled My Home is in China, was first published on the mainland for teenagers. Yeung said the books would be for “pupils to read and teachers to make reference to when preparing teaching materials”.
He did not say if the books were intended to promote the teaching of national security. Hong Kong schools are required to report by August on what they have done to promote the subject in classrooms and their future plans.
The bureau issued sweeping guidelines on national security education in early February, covering aspects such as school management, teaching and pupils’ behaviour. Children as young as six years old will have to learn the names of the offences under the law, which bans acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.