Hooray for exchanges? Hong Kong seeking to deepen students’ understanding of mainland
Plan to more than double funding of educational ties with mainland raises political suspicions … and a probing response from pair in Primary Six
Hong Kong is seeking to deepen students' understanding of the mainland by boosting its funding of exchange activities to at least HK$269 million a year by 2018, according to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's policy address and a government source.
Most of the funding will go towards three major exchange schemes starting from September. The amount is more than double current annual subsidies of about HK$120 million.
[There is] obviously a political agenda behind the measures
The city will also improve the curriculum for Chinese history and world history, which are compulsory at the lower secondary levels, to "reinforce pupils' interest in and understanding of Chinese history and culture".
Critics questioned the intention behind the generous mainland-linked policies for the young, fearing a revival of the controversial national education curriculum, which was criticised as "brainwashing" and shelved after protests in 2012.
In yesterday's speech, Leung announced pilot subsidies over three years for government-funded schools that formed long-term exchange ties with their mainland counterparts.
That "sister school scheme" started in 2004, but it has not previously been funded by the government.
