Six in 10 teachers want liberal studies to remain as is, according to new survey on controversial Hong Kong school subject
Findings come as row rages over whether the compulsory senior secondary subject teaches critical thinking or promotes biases
Six in 10 teachers want the hotly debated liberal studies subject to remain as it is, the city’s largest union for educators said on Monday, citing a newly released survey.
The teachers said making major changes would lower the importance of the compulsory subject taken by Form Four to Form Six pupils in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE), or university admission, exams.
The Professional Teachers’ Union’s (PTU) findings came as a row over the place of liberal studies in the curriculum continued.
Arguments over liberal studies refuse to die down as educators call for controversial Hong Kong school subject to be made elective
Media reports last week suggested the government would consider making the subject elective and switching from a graded to pass-fail course. But the education minister then clarified that a task force was studying the issue and would only make recommendations next year.
The PTU survey was conducted between October and December last year through both online questionnaires and hard copy surveys sent in the post. It received 401 valid replies.
Close to eight in 10 teachers said liberal studies should remain a core DSE subject, while just over six in 10 wanted it to remain a graded subject and not pass-fail.
Most students in Hong Kong sit the DSE and have to do three other core subjects – English language, Chinese language and maths – in addition to liberal studies.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam dismisses speculation over changes to controversial liberal studies subject
