Harrow Defends Move To Simplified Chinese Teaching

The Harrow International school on Wednesday defended its plan to teach junior students Chinese using only simplified characters, saying the decision was taken after much deliberation.

The British school issued a note on Monday informing parents of the planned change next year, which it says is "to equip children for 2047".

The note outlines curriculum changes, which include removing the option of learning Chinese in traditional characters for lower school students – those from Year 1 to Year 5.

The school explained that the decision was necessary to "prepare our pupils to be fully literate in the context that Hong Kong will be in by 2047".

But it said it will keep simplified and traditional Chinese mixed classes for students in Years 6 and upwards.

The new arrangement will be implemented from the new school year beginning in August next year.

The school, one of five under the prestigious Harrow family of schools, generated a buzz when it opened in Tuen Mun in 2012.

Replying to RTHK queries, Harrow said it had made the decision after listening to "various views".

The school said it is concentrating resources on teaching Chinese in simplified characters, which it said can help students "focus" and bring "clarity".

The school said that outside the curriculum, it will also be arranging extra lessons using traditional Chinese characters to help give students a wider understanding of the language.

But education sector lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen told RTHK's Candice Wong that some parents will rightly be upset about the new policy, because they were told when they enrolled their children at the school that they would learn both traditional and simplified Chinese.

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