Educators aim to promote national security education in ways that resonate beyond textbooks, through quizzes, hands-on exhibits and cross-border exchanges.
One of the schools, Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School, recently launched a “School History Room and National Education Archive” centre housing historical displays, national education books and rotating exhibitions to bring lessons to life.
Classes regularly attend specialised sessions there, exploring topics ranging from national security to other topics like flood prevention.
But the learning does not stop beyond the classroom doors.
In the hallways, students can deepen their knowledge about the nation by taking quizzes on large touch screens. Correct answers reward participants with prizes from a large capsule vending machine.
“There are questions about ethnic minority groups in the game. While playing the game, I get to learn about the cultures of the different groups, so I enjoy playing it quite a bit,” said Sin, a primary four pupil.
Another student, Lee, said the rewards had piqued her curiousity about the nation.
Meanwhile, the school’s flag-raising team had also gained first-hand insight on the ceremony during a two-day exchange trip to Shenzhen last October.
Team member Choi said she was inspired by the discipline and precision demonstrated by flag-raising teams on the mainland.
Vice Principal Yuen Kin-ming said that the school is committed to making education engaging.
“When it comes to history and culture, classroom teaching alone has its limits. By placing interactive displays in common areas, students absorb knowledge naturally as they walk by,” he said.
“We want learning to feel organic, not forced. We don’t want them to just memorise things rigidly, like in dictation exercises. What we really hope is for them to absorb knowledge gradually.”
When asked about the one-off HK$300,000 government subsidy for Chinese cultural immersion activities, Yuen shared plans to host traditional lion dances and Chinese opera-style face-changing performances.
He offered assurances that the funds are being used thoughtfully to enrich students’ connection to Chinese heritage.