After the diocese and democratic movements, liberals and even publishers balk at the introduction of the new subject imposed by Beijing, aimed at "brainwashing students." In all likelihood, its introduction postponed to next September.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - After the Catholic Church and the Territory's democratic movements, it is the turn of the Liberal Party and even educational publishers to oppose the effect of the new "National Education" school subject in Hong Kong schools. According to critics, the subject is too broad and too vague to be inserted in the normal school curriculum, in addition, as pointed out by the diocese for years, it aims at "brainwashing" local students.

It all began with the school reform desired by the Chinese central government in 2002 and launched in 2004, which sets out that in every school - from elementary onwards - non-defined "national education classes" must be introduced. Moreover, the topic must be treated as a separate subject.

Last year, speaking to a forum on education in the Territory, the bishop emeritus Card. Joseph Zen Ze-kiun had attacked these arguments that "will only brainwash students. What did they expect? That we would approve the work of the Communist Party?". Some days ago, the diocesan offical for education made it clear that hundreds of Church schools will not introduce the subject when they reopen in September.

Among other things, there are no publishers in Hong Kong - even those close to the Beijing government - able to prepare educational materials for this subject. Ben Mak, Deputy Regional Director of the Oxford University Press, explains: "Normally we need two years of preparation. But this subject was introduced in April for September. We will never be ready on time."

Not even well-heeled industry sharks have succeeded, many of whom produced several books along the lines of those in use in mainland China but who have failed to find any buyers. Shek Kwok-kei, of Pilot Publishing, explains that his company has spent a year putting together the materials needed but now the schools "do not want them. I wanted to be a pioneer, but institutions do not know the game and do not want to play ".

The Liberal Party has joined in the deepening row, organizing a rally in front of the Office for Education in Hong Kong and has delivering a petition to the local government asking for a new round of consultations between the parties. Miriam Lau Kin-yee, Chairman of the party, said: "We are not against the national education, but we have found many gray areas in educational materials."

 

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