Problems and practices in promoting global education in Hong Kong primary schools: A case study

In response to the challenges of globalisation, global learning is given special emphasis in the current curriculum reform in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. A new learning strand, Global Understanding and the Information Era, is included in the General Studies curriculum, a core subject which takes up the major responsibility in citizenship education at the primary level. However, there is a concern that the curriculum initiative may represent another ‘symbolic change’ and may not be able to be translated into the classroom practice. This article aims to explore through a case study what and how global learning is conducted in the General Studies classrooms and the problems encountered. The findings helped to inform teachers’ practice and shed light on the further development of this increasingly important area of learning in the basic education curriculum. Copyright © 2007 James Nicholas Publishers.