Does general studies help pupils develop their national identity in HKSAR?

In Hong Kong, various changes in education policy have taken place since the 1980’s in response to the different impacts generated by globalization, the application of information technology and changes in political, economic and educational environments. During the transitional period, various education policies on curriculum reform were implemented for the preparation for the return of sovereignty to China. In 1996 General Studies, a new integrated subject, was introduced as one of the core subjects in the primary curriculum. It aims at preparing children for a comprehensive education in the course of the primary education. Children are guided to acquire basic knowledge related to the individual, family, society, science and technology and the natural world. General Studies also aims to equip children “with skills and attitudes and enable them to solve problems which they encounter now and in the future so that they can gain understanding of their world, develop positive attitudes and be ready to be good citizens”. As Hong Kong was going to reintegrate with the People’s Republic of China, in order to help pupils to have increased knowledge about China, the syllabus contents of Primary five and six were extended beyond Hong Kong to China and the world as a whole. This paper analyses the aims, objectives, contents and the implementation of the General Studies syllabus. The aim is to study whether the subject helps develop the national identity in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. The significance of this study is to provide suggestions to strengthen pupils’ awareness of their Chinese national identity. Copyright © 2001 New Horizons in Education.