TOPIC

National education in Hong Kong

Authorities have advised schools to hold a national flag-raising ceremony on important occasions, including the first day of school. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong students ‘should sing national anthem with emotion’ on return to school

Education chief Christine Choi issues reminder before first day of academic term, with flag-raising ceremonies expected at schools.

Education chief Christine Choi issues reminder before first day of academic term, with flag-raising ceremonies expected at schools

1 Sep 2024 - 6:58PM

Letters | Hong Kong must radiate ideas, not replicate them

27 Aug 2024 - 11:30AM

Hong Kong pupils to learn more Communist Party history on mainland China trips

26 Aug 2024 - 9:55PM

Hong Kong teachers accused of lacking knowledge of national security education

Education Bureau says some schools fail to integrate national security elements into other subjects, and also highlights problems elsewhere.

23 Aug 2024 - 8:55PM

S.K.H. Holy Cross Primary School in Kowloon City, which was criticised for failing to use all the resources for national security education. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong school religion classes to have responsibility to country, media content

Junior secondary pupils to be taught about responsibility to country, media objectivity and environment under new 217-page curriculum.

17 Aug 2024 - 10:33PM

First batch of Hong Kong ethnic minority pupils depart for mainland China tour

Pupils using new five-year travel permits for permanent residents with foreign passports to take tour to better understand nation.

12 Aug 2024 - 9:13PM

Communist Party exhibitions lean on honour and obligation among young Chinese

Museums seek to inspire students with stories of the party’s early days – but not everybody is won over.

11 Aug 2024 - 4:58PMvideocam

Patriotism-themed exhibitions attended by young Chinese have become a common sight in recent years, particularly during public holidays. Photo: Yijing Shen

Hong Kong revamps school guides for visual arts, music to foster national security

Education Bureau suggests traditional Chinese painting theory be used as criteria for assessing pupils’ artwork, among other new emphases.

9 Aug 2024 - 5:52PM

Hong Kong’s No 2 official compares patriotic education with dating a girl

‘You have to get to know the country before identifying with it, eventually being able to love and safeguard it,’ Eric Chan says.

13 Jul 2024 - 8:11PM

Hong Kong officials defend criticism of special needs school over patriotic classes

Social media users earlier slammed Education Bureau for urging school to ensure more teachers were equipped to teach national security topics.

27 Jun 2024 - 2:03AM

The Education Bureau has said it “deeply regrets” that some residents believe it went too far. Photo: Shutterstock

Some Hong Kong pupils singing national anthem too softly, school inspectors say

Comments were made in a new batch of 10 external review reports on schools.

25 Jun 2024 - 7:54PM

School inspectors now also look at national education during their reviews. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hundreds of Hong Kong police to look out for Tiananmen anniversary activities

Sources say police will ramp up their presence on Tuesday at sensitive locations.

4 Jun 2024 - 5:15PMvideocam

122

Editorial | A softer approach to national education is step in right direction

For Hong Kong, as elsewhere, focusing on inspiration rather than imposition is the way forward to instil patriotism.

27 May 2024 - 5:00AM

More effort needed to get Hong Kong pupils to study Chinese history, expert says

Having just 13 per cent of pupils taking DSE exam in subject is ‘far from ideal’, says Ho Hon-kuen of the Centre of National History Education (Hong Kong).

19 May 2024 - 7:37PM

Pupils will be given the choice of sitting one DSE paper instead of the current two in Chinese history. Photo: Handout

Beijing asks Hong Kong tertiary institutions to step up patriotic education

Xia Baolong meets Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin and representatives of 22 tertiary education bodies during their trip to Beijing.

11 May 2024 - 9:57AM

Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, meets Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin and representatives of 22 Hong Kong tertiary education bodies during their trip to Beijing. Photo: Handout

Letters | Why citizenship subject will fail to cultivate patriotism in Hong Kong students

Readers discuss the pass-fail grading system for the citizenship and social development DSE exam, and teachers’ approach in the classroom amid concerns about student mental health.

6 May 2024 - 11:30AM

Hong Kong No 2 official calls for soft approach to instil patriotism among students

Chief Secretary Eric Chan says authorities and schools can use film culture, mega sports events and exchanges such as visits to aerospace facilities to carry out national education.

29 Apr 2024 - 9:46PM

Hong Kong to teach new course on nation’s struggles to civil servants

Course, to be offered to middle and senior-level government workers, part of broader ‘mindset building’ push.

22 Apr 2024 - 10:51PM

Civil servants leave government headquarters at Tamar. The new course comes after positive feedback from civil servants taking part in training courses aimed at strengthening their national identity. Photo: May Tse

Call for Hongkongers to learn about socialism given Communist Party achievements

Patriotic education will help Hongkongers understand nation’s history, culture, achievements and governance, says Starry Lee.

21 Apr 2024 - 4:28PM

Hong Kong authorities publish first patriotic school materials for English classes

Authorities published new teaching materials for use in primary and secondary school English classes in run up to National Security Education Day earlier this week.

20 Apr 2024 - 4:46PM

Over 45,000 students in Hong Kong sit first citizen and social development exam

New subject curriculum replaces controversial liberal studies and focuses on national security as well as China’s development.

16 Apr 2024 - 8:07PM

The DSE exams will end on May 4, with results scheduled to be released on July 17. Photo: Handout

Patriotism working group in Hong Kong may adopt innovative approach

‘We want the new generation to really appreciate our Chinese culture, our Chinese history and also the contemporary developments of our country,’ city leader says.

10 Apr 2024 - 8:30AM

A flag-raising ceremony at a Kwai Fong school. The city’s leader has said he will be focusing on quality of patriotic education and not just quantity. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Exclusive | Bringing in mainland Chinese pupils ‘not an option’ for Hong Kong public schools

Schools that cannot attract enough pupils should consider merging, not insist on survival, education minister Christine Choi says.

25 Mar 2024 - 11:15AM

Hong Kong NGOs concerned over subsidy system changes to reward government support

NGOs now scored on efforts to support official policies, such as events promoting national education, in change to Social Welfare Department funding allocation system.

5 Mar 2024 - 7:49PM

Editorial | Universities can help Hong Kong pass talent test

The city’s status as a regional education hub can only be reinforced by its latest private institution as it seeks to address a skills shortage.

22 Jan 2024 - 5:00AM

Caritas Institute of Higher Education has been granted the university title and renamed to Saint Francis University in Tiu Keng Leng. Photo: SCMP / Jelly Tse

Education University of Hong Kong sets up city’s first national security centre

Chairman of university council says centre has been set up as an important platform to proactively promote national education.

9 Jan 2024 - 11:45PM

The Education University of Hong Kong is the city’s main teaching training institution. Photo: Roy Issa

Hong Kong schools must pump up volume of ‘soft’ national anthem singing: review

‘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.

30 Dec 2023 - 5:40PM

Letters | Teach Hong Kong students the art of debate, too

Readers discuss the importance of seeing both sides for conflict resolution, striking a balance between development and wildlife protection, investors’ expectations, and the optimal temperature in MTR train cabins.

1 Dec 2023 - 11:30AM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

National education in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong government has sought since 2007 to introduce "national education" courses to strengthen "national identity awareness" and nurture patriotism towards China. The programme has drawn public opposition in recent years, with many in Hong Kong seeing it as a brainwashing attempt by the Chinese Communist Party to suppress dissent.

last updated:

27 August, 2024