Link to article: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-teacher-struck-off-pro-independence-classes-china-13211164
A Honk Kong teacher was recently fired for supposedly promoting a “pro-independence” message in the classroom. The lesson plan mentioned a banned political party that advocated for Hong Kong autonomy. Government officials are calling the teacher a “black sheep” in the Hong Kong education system
This issue arises while education is being forced into the spotlight of China’s central government after a series of protests in Hong Kong calling for independence and police accountability. These protests sparked the creation of new legislation from the central government making calls for Hong Kong independence illegal. Critics of the new censorship rules have argued that Hong Kong will lose its reputation for having a free and high quality education system. But nonetheless, Beijing continues to change the education material to reflect a more “patriotic education.”
This new law has caused certain books to be banned. Both public and school libraries have taken books off of their shelves in response to the new regulations. Publishers have resorted to self-censoring. In order to release their content, they must remove certain topics that violate the new law.
Worldwide, censorship of education happens more often than one might think. It is rarely blatant, but rather subtle changes. For example, United States history classes often omit the undertones of racism the country was founded upon. That is a conscious choice by the creator of the schools’ curriculums.
Censorship in education is particularly concerning, because the information children are exposed to plays a large part in how they develop their personal world views and morals. For example, in disallowing Hong Kong primary aged children to learn about the history of the nation’s fight for independence, the government, in turn, suppresses any inclination for independence the children themselves might have had. Of course, that is seen as a positive by the Chinese central government.
Hong Kong is a stateless nation, which means it is a group of people who share culture but not an independent government. China is opposed to Hong Kong autonomy, and swiftly takes action against any calls for independence. Hong Kong, along with other disputed territories, cause China to be classified as a multi-nation state.
Multi-nation states are characterized by chronic political unrest stemming from minority ethnic groups attempting to gain independence. It is clear that China is no exception to that generalization. However, only history will tell the long-lasting effects of China’s censorship of Hong Kong’s education system on its independence movement.