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The Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, today (September 29) led the National Day Delegation from the Educational Sector of Hong Kong 2015 to participate in a series of professional exchange activities in Beijing.
More than 150 Hong Kong education workers joined the delegation this year, including representatives of tertiary institutions, principals and teachers of kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools.
The delegation this morning visited Lugou Bridge and the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to learn more about the important phase of modern history from the Lugou Bridge Incident in 1937 to victory in the War of Resistance in 1945. The school principals and teachers shared the view that Chinese history education should be strengthened.
"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to Chinese history education. In the key stages of basic education, Chinese history education has been made compulsory for all students at junior secondary levels following General Studies in primary schools," Mr Ng said.
"To enhance the relevance of Chinese history to students and thus their learning interests, the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Curriculum Development Council, with the participation of academics and frontline teachers, are deliberating on the improvement of the Chinese history curriculum in junior secondary education. Among other things, we seek to put equal emphasis on both ancient history and modern history by enriching the latter, and highlight the role of Hong Kong as part of Chinese history."
The EDB plans to launch a consultation at the end of this year and will strengthen teacher training and develop more teaching resources, such as e-learning and video teaching materials, to further support Chinese history education.
Members of the delegation were received and welcomed by Ms Yan Juanqi, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, at the Great Hall of the People this afternoon. They will also meet officials of the Ministry of Education for bilateral exchanges this evening.
Ends/Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:30
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