Student anger as Hong Kong Baptist University opts to keep rule that stops them graduating unless they pass Mandarin exam

Baptist University senate recommends it keep graduation requirement that caused eight-hour stand-off after 70 per cent failed course earlier this year

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Ken Lui, the acting president of the Baptist University Students' Union, said university officials had ignored the concerns of students. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 10:09pm, 27 Jun 2018Updated: 10:49pm, 27 Jun 2018

Baptist University will retain its unpopular requirement for students to pass a Mandarin module to graduate, its highest authority on academic matters decided on Wednesday, more than five months after 30 students stormed a language centre in protest.

But the university’s student union rejected the senate’s decision, calling it a move to “dilute the controversy” without addressing the views of students.

The graduation requirement has been in place since 2007. Students can take a three-part Mandarin course or to be exempted from it, they must pass a proficiency test by its language centre or attain a certain grade in an exam by China’s state language regulator.

Baptist University students protest after the university suspended union president Lau Tsz-kei for his role in the stand-off in January. Photo: Winson Wong

In January, about 30 students staged an eight-hour stand-off in the language centre after results showed 70 per cent of those who took its test failed.

They criticised the marking scheme as not being transparent and railed against the requirement, with student union president Lau Tsz-kei caught on video hurling vulgarities at a staff member. Lau and another student were temporarily suspended from classes for violating the school’s code of conduct.