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Written by: Hu Jiaxin
2020-08-18 03:16
Last update date: 2020-08-18 03:19At the end of September last year, the Education Bureau launched the "Voluntary Submission" program for general education books for high school. After ten months of official review and review, the new revisions of the general education books by many publishers were finally "released" two weeks before the start of school. . "Hong Kong 01" found that the "Acquisition New Senior High School General Education Series-Hong Kong Today" (fourth edition), which was once strongly criticized by pro-organized newspapers, deleted the "Separation of Powers" and "Three Powers" in the chapter concerning the rule of law. Power checks and balances the content of "in case one of them has too much power"; one of the test questions "the tension between China and Hong Kong provokes the emotion of "Hong Kong independence"" also disappeared.
Tian Fangze, a Liberal Studies teacher and vice president of the Education Association, believes that in the past, social opinions regarded "separation of powers" as the principle of the distribution of government power, and it was not inappropriate to spread out related concepts and opinions. He believed that the deletion of related content was "outrageous" and the doubt was a textbook. Only follow the official position and go against the philosophy of multiple thinking in Liberal Studies. He worries that under the current social environment, publishers are under political pressure to make revisions.
The revised content of the general education books of many publishing houses was finally "released" two weeks before the start of school. (Profile picture)
8 sets of general education textbooks "submitted for review"
Under the anti-revision law turmoil last year, the Liberal Studies subject again caused controversy. In September last year, the Education Bureau suddenly set up a "professional consulting service" for general education subjects in high schools that do not need to be submitted for review. The textbooks that they participate in can be added to the list of applicable books. Previously, the Education Bureau did not review general education textbooks, so the books were not "officially certified" by the Education Bureau.
In the end, 6 publishing houses and 8 sets of general education textbooks were "submitted for review", which accounted for the vast majority of the market. After about ten months of official review, revisions and re-reviews by publishing houses, many publishing houses successively uploaded the newly revised content to the teacher's page yesterday.
"Separation of powers to prevent government dictatorship" deleted in Yaji General Book
In May last year, the "Acquisition New Senior High School General Education Series-Hong Kong Today" (fourth edition), which was vigorously targeted by the "Wen Wei Po", was deleted on the grounds of "according to teaching needs" in the chapter on the rule of law. The concept of separation of powers and administrative leadership.
In the description of the chart, the original text reads "the society generally believes that Hong Kong implements the "separation of powers" and that the executive, legislative, and judicial organs check and balance each other to prevent one of them from being too powerful." However, the new amendment does not mention "to prevent one of them." "Excessive power".
In addition, in the examination question training, the old version contains four materials to consider whether the cooperation of the three powers is beneficial to Hong Kong. One of the materials mentioning "the separation of powers against government dictatorship" was deleted in the new revision and replaced by the Basic Law. "List the provisions related to the "three rights".
Liberal Studies teacher Tian Fangze believes that the deletion of the concept involving the "separation of powers" is "outrageous" on the grounds of "according to teaching needs", which makes the information about the questions almost lopsided and inappropriate. He pointed out that in the past, mainstream social opinions and many legal opinions regarded "separation of powers" as the principle of government power distribution, and it was not wrong to spread out related concepts and opinions. On the contrary, both the establishment and the government believed that there was no "separation of powers" in Hong Kong.
Looking through the information, Fan Xu Litai, former member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Shao Shanbo, former chief adviser of the Central Policy Group, both stated that Hong Kong's political system is not "separation of powers."
Tian Fangze pointed out that in the past, he provided students with two points of view on teaching, but he questioned that the textbooks were reviewed by the bureau. The publishing house only followed the government’s established position, which violated the philosophy of diversification and critical thinking in general education. The angle must be reasonable? It may not be certain under critical thinking."
Exam questions related to Hong Kong independence were deleted
"Wen Wei Po"'s general education report in May last year reviewed many high school general education books in the market, and criticized many of them as "poison teaching materials" and ""yellow" clothing poisons". Among them, the general education books published by Yaji are the key criticisms. The object of, extracted five points in the book and criticized point by point, and all four points were revised or deleted under the new revision.
Yaji's general book contains information on questions related to the "rule of law". It once described that "the Mainland has increased its intervention in the rule of law in Hong Kong in recent years. For example, the National People's Congress interprets the law and decrees elected members to lose their membership, and makes arrangements for the high-speed rail "one-two-place inspection"... It is worrying that the rule of law in Hong Kong will be impaired." However, the new version has deleted that sentence; the title of the data has also been changed from "The rule of law in Hong Kong is in danger?" to "The ranking of the rule of law in Hong Kong has fallen. The Department of Justice reiterates that the rule of law has not been damaged."
There are two pages in the book that deal with the training of exam questions about "the rise of local consciousness". One of them is about "the tension between China and Hong Kong provokes the emotions of "Hong Kong independence"". The text mentions contradictions between China and Hong Kong such as parallel import activities and free travellers affecting people's livelihood. The xenophobic sentiment of Hong Kong people has been generated. Under the tense relationship between China and Hong Kong, local consciousness has risen, and organizations advocating "Hong Kong independence" have emerged. The relevant content has been criticized by the left newspapers, saying that the textbook cited a large amount of information to "smear the Mainland" and even "shirked" the birth of "Hong Kong independence" to the Mainland. In the end, both pages were deleted.
Tian Fangze said that most teachers make their own school-based textbooks. However, after the anti-revision incident and the implementation of the National Security Law, many frontline teachers worry that they will switch to textbooks in the new school year because of complaints about the textbooks. They think it will be safer. (Profile picture)
Tian Fangze believes that the two test questions involve factual statements and mainstream social opinions. He described the cancellation of the relevant part as "strange" and did not understand why it was deleted. He worries that booksellers are affected by the current political atmosphere and are taboo on sensitive social issues, criticizing the government and the mainland's negative content. Under the pro-China media public opinion and official review, he does not rule out political pressure on textbook revisions.
In the past, high school general education books were not submitted for review. Tian said that most teachers used less textbooks, instead they made more school-based textbooks, which made the teaching content diversified. However, under the anti-amendment case, in the past year, more than 200 teachers have been complained about professional ethics. He lamented that after the complaints were overwhelmed and the implementation of the National Security Law, the "red line" of education was everywhere. Many front-line teachers worry that they will switch to textbooks in the new school year due to complaints about textbooks, thinking that it will be safer.
General Education Review is expected to submit a report in the second half of the year. Yang Runxiong: After the establishment of the National Security Law, relevant courses will be added
It is reported that Liberal Studies will delete content identity and political participation as the focus of the review
Eight sets of general textbooks "voluntary submission for review" were introduced by the Education Bureau to withdraw from Pearson Port
General textbook "voluntary submission for review" revision postponed to complete in July
General Education Bureau Textbook