EDB announces details on requirement for newly appointed teachers to pass Basic Law and National Security Law Test
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A spokesman for the EDB said, "The Basic Law is closely related to our daily lives and has been a key element of the school curriculum, which shall be strengthened. Teachers should have a correct understanding of the Basic Law so that they could enlighten students and help them correctly understand the constitutional status of Hong Kong and develop positive attitudes towards the Basic Law and 'one country, two systems'.
"Starting from the current school year, newly appointed teachers in public sector schools are required to pass the Basic Law Test in order to be considered for appointment. As announced in 'The Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address', the Basic Law Test requirement will be extended to cover all Direct Subsidy Scheme schools and kindergartens joining the kindergarten education scheme starting from the 2023/24 school year. The test covers the Basic Law and the National Security Law. Apart from regular teachers, newly appointed teachers remunerated with cash grant are also required to obtain a pass in the test. The requirement applies to all ranks of the teacher grade including principals."
The spokesman said that having regard to the different entry requirements for teaching posts in secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens, the EDB will conduct a total of five rounds of the BLNST for degree holders and non-degree holders in this school year. Teachers who have sat for and obtained a pass result in any Basic Law Test and plan to join or change schools in the 2023/24 school year are required to take the BLNST and attain a pass result in order to be considered for appointment.
For the content and format of the BLNST organised by the EDB, the EDB has drawn reference from the arrangements of the BLNST conducted by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB). The written test is a bilingual paper (in both English and Chinese) and candidates scoring at least 10 out of 20 multiple-choice questions will be deemed to have a pass result in the BLNST. Teachers who possess a pass result in the BLNST issued by the CSB will be deemed to have met the relevant requirement and are not required to take the BLNST organised by the EDB again.
The first round of the BLNST (Degree Level) is scheduled for December 3. Persons interested in taking the first round of the test may apply from 9am on October 26 to 5pm on November 7 through the online application system on the EDB webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/blnst). As places for the test are limited, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The test dates of the other rounds of the BLNST will be announced in due course.
For more details about the BLNST requirement and the BLNST organised by the EDB, please refer to EDB Circular No. 13/2022 and the EDB webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/blnst).
Ends/Monday, October 24, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:55
Issued at HKT 16:55
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