Many young Hongkongers remain uncomfortable with any sort of connection to the mainland, according to a phone poll of 1,034 people done in December 2017. Source: University of Hong Kong Public Opinion Programme / SCMP
Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/2144629/hongkongers-must-learn-about-chinese-history-theres-no-need-make-it Letters
Hongkongers must learn about Chinese history, but there’s no need to make it a compulsory subject
A young visitor flies the flags for Hong Kong and mainland China, during a trip to the People’s Liberation Army barracks in Sha Tau Kok, on July 9, 2017. Photo: Nora Tam
I refer to the letter from Victoria Lai (“Students benefit from lessons in Chinese History”, April 29). I agree that learning about the background of the place we belong to is essential. In the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exam, Chinese history is already one of the elective subjects. But I don’t think making it compulsory for secondary school students is necessary.
Students these days often complain about their lack of interest in the things they have to learn. But if they are forced to study something they have little or even no interest in – we might have a situation similar to the one with DSE Chinese reading and writing, the “paper of death” that everyone worries about dragging grades down. If that is the case, I believe the Education Bureau would receive even more criticism than it does now.
We know that learning about the past is one way to improve in the present. More importantly, learning the history of our nation helps us have a better understanding of what the older generations endured.
Indeed, Hong Kong is a part of China and we need to have a better understanding of our shared past. But education should not be about promoting national identity.
Cassandra Chan, Lam Tin