Hong Kong’s education minister is at the centre of a history textbook controversy which has sparked fears of political censorship.
Several groups, including the city’s teachers’ union have urged for transparency in the textbook review process to preserve the history curriculum and prevent any biases in its teaching.
The controversy started last week, when the bureau’s textbook review panel stated there was a need to rewrite “inappropriate” phrases about China’s sovereignty over Hong Kong in history books for senior secondary students.
Secretary for education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung defended the move and denied any attempts at censorship, though some groups fear it might distort history, reported Hong Kong Free Press.
The Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union said that asking publishers to adopt an “official” stance damages the teaching profession and may violate textbook guidelines that call for different viewpoints and perspectives when discussing history.
The history curriculum should clearly delineate fact from fiction and respect historical developments. Teaching materials should not lead students to a specific stance, the union added.
It urged the Education Bureau to clarify its standards and mechanism for reviewing textbooks and tell the public whether it has recommended that publishers adopt various stances while putting together the syllabus.
The revision of Chinese history curriculum in Hong Kong’s schools has always been a controversial topic, with lawmakers and government officials finding difficulty in agreeing on the best content for students.