Hong Kong education chief rejects concern that new primary school subject lacks global outlook

Hong Kong’s education minister has dismissed a lawmaker’s criticism that one of two new primary school subjects replacing general studies disproportionately emphasised patriotic education and did not consider international perspectives, saying his concerns were “over anxious”.

Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Friday that the new syllabus introduced the world to primary school students through the lens of “a community with a shared destiny for mankind”, a phrase previously used by President Xi Jinping.

She was speaking at a meeting of the Legislative Council’s education panel, which discussed a paper by the Education Bureau on the progress of two new subjects being developed – humanities and science – that would replace general studies and be implemented next September.

Tik Chi-yuen, a legislator on the panel, said the proposed humanities syllabus “focuses on national and patriotic education but says little about international perspectives”.

“In addition to building national identity among students, knowing the world is equally important,” he added.

The minister rejected Tik’s criticism, pointing out that the topic “World and me” would be one of six themes covered in humanities.