HONG Kong Chief Executive C Y Leung announced yesterday that local schools would be allowed to decide when and how to launch courses on moral and national education.
The decision came after hearing views from schools, teachers and parents groups, Leung said.
He added that his government understands the concerns about the issue and there would be no deadline after the three-year initiation period for the introduction of the courses under the amended policy.
The city's government stated in the 2010/11 Policy Address that moral and national education courses would become a stand-alone subject in primary and secondary schools.
In April, the Education Bureau announced a refined curriculum for the subject, and schools were advised to implement the subject after the initiation period.
Leung said Hong Kong is a part of China and it is natural for students to learn about the country.
He urged people to respect the autonomy of schools and school-sponsoring bodies if they have plans to launch such a course.
He said the subject had been in preparation for a decade and the previous government had conducted many consultations on it.
The government will also review the subject's curriculum and make amendments, if necessary, he added.
Recommended News
