September 06, 2012

Committee on the Implementation of Moral & National Education Chairperson Anna Wu said the committee’s terms of reference are open and that it could discuss any option, adding the Chief Executive and Chief Secretary had publicly confirmed this.
 
Briefing the media today, Ms Wu said issues to be discussed could include whether the Government should continue with plans to introduce the national education course, whether it should be put forward as a standalone course, and whether there should be a contemporary Chinese history programme.
 
"The flexibilities are all there, including whether or not it should be continued," she said.
 
Ms Wu added the guidelines and content can also be discussed, as could the three-year initiation period.
 
Teachers should be respected in their teaching, schools should have autonomy in dealing with this issue and deciding how to teach this particular course, and religious organisations should also have the ability to factor in religious teaching in any moral education course, she stressed.
 
"I am also hoping that we could secure further funding from Government to establish a final platform for different parties and parents to apply for funding to draw up different teaching content."
 
The committee intends to have its first meeting by the end of September, to then reflect views and recommendations to the Government for its response.
 
Ms Wu called on different parties to share their views and have a dialogue with the committee, to resolve some issues and find common ground.