The Education Bureau today said it had issued a letter to a primary school teacher this week informing him that the bureau cancelled his teacher registration after taking into account the serious mistakes in his teaching.

Responding to media enquiries, the bureau said the teacher taught general studies at Primary 2 level but he presented completely wrong content and confused right and wrong when teaching a number of historical events.

It noted that the teacher was found to be lacking basic subject knowledge, common sense and the ability to understand textbooks or teaching materials.

He had also seriously neglected the basic duty of preparing for lessons. His teaching was based on personal wild guesses, or even casual thoughts, resulting in incorrect and strange narration in the self-learning materials produced for students.

For example, when explaining the causes of Britain starting the Opium War, this teacher said it was because Britain wanted to “destroy opium in China”.

When narrating on papermaking in the context of China’s four great inventions, he said the purpose for ancient people to invent paper was to replace the use of turtle shells and animal bones for recording events to “prevent the extinction of animals”.

The bureau said such teaching content is obviously wrong or even absolute nonsense.

In handling this case, the bureau examined the school’s report and the teacher’s explanations to the school. The teacher was also given opportunities to make representations and had sought legal advice.

After thorough consideration of all the information collected and the case’s nature and gravity, the bureau considered that the teacher is incompetent and not a fit and proper person to be a teacher.

It therefore decided to cancel the teacher’s registration in accordance with the Education Ordinance, to safeguard students' well-being, uphold teachers’ professionalism and maintain the public’s confidence in education in Hong Kong.