Why are Hong Kong teachers so concerned about Basic Law education?

Reporter Peace Chiu sets out the reasons for the latest move, the criticism and the government’s response

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Lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee holds up a copy of the Basic Law. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 8:02am, 3 Jun 2017Updated: 1:00pm, 3 Jun 2017

On May 31, the Hong Kong Education Bureau issued a circular to local schools regarding new secondary education curriculum guidelines. Among the revisions was the inclusion of a new requirement for all schools to provide 39 hours of Basic Law education at the junior secondary level.

The move quickly drew public criticism and concerns about political meddling. Here’s a look at why the curriculum change is stirring controversy in education and political circles.

1) Why Basic Law education?

According to the new secondary education guide prepared by the Curriculum Development Council, the Basic Law – Hong Kong’s mini-constitution – is closely related to students’ daily life in Hong Kong, and education on the topic enables students to understand the document’s importance, the principle of “one country, two systems” and how it relates to the sustainability of Hong Kong’s social system and its way of life in the coming decades.

The guide also states that Basic Law education helps to enhance students’ thinking skills, nurture positive values and attitudes and reinforce the cultivation of values including the rule of law, justice, national identity, democracy, freedom, human rights, equality and rationality.

It remains to be seen how students will react to the new Basic Law teaching curriculum. Photo: Handout