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About 400 students from 41 kindergartens and primary and secondary schools today (September 5) took part in a ceremony to launch the 2008 Pledge Day.
The students pledged to stay away from bad habits and to cherish themselves, their families and the environment. They also promised to be a committed national and global citizen contributing to the well-being of mankind.
The Education Bureau (EDB) encourages all schools to organise a Pledge Day every school year. The theme for the 2008-09 school year is "To Lead a Healthy Lifestyle and Positive Life".
Student representatives and officiating guests - the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Kenneth Chen; the Principal Assistant Secretary for Education (Curriculum Development), Dr K K Chan; the Executive Director of the Family Planning Association of HK, Dr Susan Fan; and the Director of Family Heartware, Ms Shirley Loo - read out the pledge and signed the pledge form.
The aim of the launch ceremony was to rally the efforts of parents, schools and community to help students develop positive values and attitudes, as well as to raise their awareness of the importance of leading a healthy and positive life. Officiating guests also shared their views and experience in nurturing the positive values and attitudes of youth.
The Pledge Day was first initiated by the EDB in September 2003, during which students pledged to lead a healthy lifestyle and keep their campus clean by making a collective commitment. Since then, the Pledge Day with various themes has been well-received with participation and support from kindergartens and primary and secondary schools.
The EDB encourages all schools to plan implementation strategies to help students realise the pledge. To help participating schools map out their implementation plan, relevant resources have been uploaded onto the Moral and Civic Education webpage of the bureau (www.edb.gov.hk/cd/mce). The Curriculum Development Institute of EDB will organise a series of related professional development programmes for teachers.
Ends/Friday, September 5, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:45
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