Hong Kong schools need to pump up the volume on ‘a little soft’ national anthem singing, annual inspection report says

‘Singing a little soft’, Education Bureau’s annual report says of national anthem in schools, but praises ‘solemn’ behaviour of most at flag-raising ceremonies

Report adds that schools also got high marks for activities to boost children’s interest in Chinese history and culture

Reading Time:3 minutes

Pupils at Fung Kai No.1 Primary School at Sheung Shui assemble for a flag-raising ceremony. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 8:30am, 30 Dec 2023Updated: 5:40pm, 30 Dec 2023

Hong Kong education authorities have criticised pupils and teachers for singing the national anthem too softly, as well as slamming schools for failing to highlight the risks the country faced.

The Education Bureau’s “Inspection Annual Report 22-23”, released on Friday, also criticised schools for focusing too much on knowledge of national security, rather than linking it to pupils’ everyday lives and underlining why the subject mattered to them.

“Teachers and students sang the national anthem together, but the singing was a little soft,” the report said. “Schools must boost students’ confidence and habit in singing the national anthem.”

The Education Bureau’s annual review of 251 schools says they need to turn up the volume when singing the national anthem. Photo: Sun Yeung

But the review added that most pupils behaved solemnly during flag-raising ceremonies and also praised schools for the organisation of a variety of activities to boost children’s interest in Chinese history and culture.

Hong Kong schools need to pump up the volume on ‘a little soft’ national anthem singing, annual inspection report says

‘Singing a little soft’, Education Bureau’s annual report says of national anthem in schools, but praises ‘solemn’ behaviour of most at flag-raising ceremonies Report adds that schools also got high marks for activities to boost children’s interest in Chinese history and culture

‘Singing a little soft’, Education Bureau’s annual report says of national anthem in schools, but praises ‘solemn’ behaviour of most at flag-raising ceremonies

Report adds that schools also got high marks for activities to boost children’s interest in Chinese history and culture