How national anthem law is being applied more strictly in Hong Kong than in Beijing
- International schools on mainland China given flexibility when it comes to teaching the song as part of the curriculum
- In Hong Kong government officials say all pupils in the city will be required to learn it
Every Monday morning, students in public schools across Beijing assemble on their sports grounds for the weekly flag-raising ceremonies.
They stand solemnly and sing March of the Volunteers as the flag is raised. The Chinese national anthem also blares out over loudspeakers, so even pedestrians outside the school premises hear it.
Two years after mainland China introduced its national anthem law, partly to encourage learning and singing the song in schools, Beijing’s public schools are complying.
At private international schools in the capital, however, the anthem does not figure prominently. It is rarely heard, and teaching students about it is not on the curriculum.
A director of a private international kindergarten and primary school said it did not receive any notice from Beijing’s education authorities about the anthem law, and officials he spoke to told him there were no “top-down guidelines”.
“It is a non-issue in Beijing,” said the director, who asked not to be named.
