'Take Current Affairs Out Of Liberal Studies'

A task force reviewing the local school curriculum is calling for a major overhaul of the liberal studies subject, including stripping out discussion of current affairs, before the government decides whether it should be kept as a core subject for secondary students.

In a report submitted to the Education Bureau on Tuesday, the group said major changes are needed to address controversies surrounding the subject.

The task force cited allegations that the subject was responsible for the “violent and radical behaviour of some youngsters in the recent social unrest” and that teachers had “abused” the subject as a “platform to put forward their own political views”.

To help ensure that the subject is taught properly, with the high level of professionalism required, the group said liberal studies textbooks should be vetted, teachers should be given more training, and school management should strengthen self-evaluation and accountability mechanisms.

The report also said a regular review of the subject's content is needed, saying current affairs shouldn’t be discussed at all unless the matter being debated is already ‘mature’.

"Newly emerging current issues that are still developing are not suitable for enquiry because when events are still developing, it is difficult for teachers and students to conclude without the benefit of hindsight or verify the objectivity and reliability of the data and information gathered, and to engage in impartial and evidence-based discussions," it said.

The task force concluded that secondary students aren’t mature enough to have "a solid understanding of the problems from multiple perspectives” and appreciate all the complexities at hand.

The group said it strongly recommends the Education Bureau conduct an impact study as soon as possible after the proposed improvement measures are implemented, to see if the changes have helped the subject achieve its curriculum goals.

This study should help the bureau “decide on [Liberal Studies’] status as a core subject in the senior secondary curriculum”, it said.

But pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung said she’s disappointed that the task force hasn’t already called for the subject to be scrapped altogether.

“It has not addressed to our concern that we do not want the liberal studies to be a compulsory subject,” she said.

“After all these complaints about different liberal studies teacher who have been found to have caused [feelings of hatred] towards the government or others, people started to lose confidence towards the system as well as towards the subject. So the government must do something to rebuild the confidence”, Leung added.

However, the Professional Teachers' Union (PTU) said it's worried that the Education Bureau will tighten its control of the Liberal Studies subject.

The PTU said the subject's future remains unclear although the task-force has suggested retaining it - because the task-force has also called for another study to determine its status as a core subject for senior secondary students, when all improvements have been made.

Meanwhile, the task force says schools should strengthen children's understanding of the nation, respect for diverse opinions, love for peace, and respect for the rule of law.

It also called on the bureau to "highlight the importance of abiding by the law, public interest and the common good as well as the need to critically evaluate the truthfulness of information and use IT ethically in circulating and interpreting information".

The group said during the social unrest last year, the "large amount of fake news transmitted via social media and e-platforms for propaganda purposes has been a grave concern".

And it wants more resources so that teachers can develop what it calls "the universal core values underpinning Chinese morals and culture", such as care for life, perseverance, responsibility and filial piety.