No questions on rule of law or politics in this year’s liberal studies paper at Hong Kong’s DSE exams, teachers say
- One educator suggests that controversy over subject, with pro-establishment camp blaming it for radicalising city’s youth, played a part in the omission of some test questions this year
- Others critical of the change say new paper is not ‘deep’ enough and therefore unable to fully assess candidates
The latest liberal studies paper for Hong Kong’s university entrance examinations did not carry any questions on the rule of law or politics that were common topics in previous years, according to teachers who have reviewed the test.
Some 45,000 Hong Kong students took the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams on Monday, the third day for the tests, during which they were assessed on four core subjects – with the other three being Chinese, English and mathematics.
This year’s exam questions for liberal studies touched on the issues of trash in country parks, renewable power, esports, public health, innovative technologies, sports, as well as art and culture, with no mention of sensitive material such as rule of law or political participation.
Liberal studies teacher Cheung Yui-fai, an executive committee member of the Professional Teachers’ Union (PTU), said unlike past exams which had questions on volatile issues, such as press freedom last year, the latest instalment carried no such topics.
He suggested that earlier controversy surrounding the liberal studies subject played a part in this. “[It could be because of] criticism of liberal studies from the authorities and pro-establishment figures, who were unhappy with the discussion on social and political issues among students.”
Liberal studies was introduced in Hong Kong in 2009 as one of four core subjects for senior secondary school students, and was aimed at enhancing students’ social awareness and developing their critical thinking skills.
But the subject became controversial in recent years as pro-establishment lawmakers and heavyweights blamed it for escalating violence among young people during the 2019 anti-government protests, and some teaching materials were labelled as biased.