National education to be stepped up on ‘all fronts’ for Hong Kong’s youth, Carrie Lam vows, after admitting ‘deficiencies’ in current system
- She argues that regional policies secured for city’s young people would be pointless if future generations lack national identity and shun integration with mainland
- Chief executive’s remarks come after sweeping guidelines issued to schools on national security awareness
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has vowed to step up national education efforts for the city’s youth, after admitting that it was an “undisputed fact” there were “deficiencies” in promoting the topic to students.
Lam’s remarks on Wednesday came weeks after education authorities issued sweeping guidelines to schools on awareness and teaching pupils about national security, while top Beijing officials have been pushing the city to do more in instilling patriotism in young people.
Education minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, meanwhile, reiterated on Wednesday that the government would help schools promote national education via a “multipronged approach”.
“There are indeed deficiencies in our national education, which is an undisputed fact, and the government is determined to make improvements,” Lam told lawmakers.
She was responding to pro-establishment lawmaker Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung during a Legislative Council question and answer session, on what elements were missing in the current education system when it came to promoting patriotism in classrooms.