Over 50,000 pupils to join educational trips to mainland China

The Education Bureau said on Friday that over 50,000 pupils and 5,500 teachers are expected to join the compulsory mainland study tours for a new core subject of citizenship and social development, with most allocated a 2-day or 3-day itinerary.

The new core subject for senior secondary pupils was introduced in 2021 to replace liberal studies, with the new syllabus designed to focus on national security, identity, lawfulness and patriotism.

The bureau said so far 497 schools have applied for the education tours in this academic year, adding that most of them were allocated a 2-day or 3-day itinerary, with Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai being the most popular destinations.

As of November 24, a total of 36 tour groups consisting of around 3,760 senior secondary school students and around 400 teachers have departed for 12 regions in Guangdong Province, as well as Shanghai, Fujian, Guizhou, and other places.

The Secretary for Education, Choi Yuk-lin, told a Legco committee this morning that if time permits, arrangements will be made for students from both regions to learn and have lunch together.

Authorities will collect questionnaires from schools to understand any issues regarding the organizer or itineraries.

In response to concerns that some pupils had to go through separate immigration counters due to a difference in their travel documents, Choi said authorities will deploy additional manpower at the border control points to assist if some pupils are holders of travel visas. 

Authorities will also continue to discuss with relevant Mainland departments for convenient arrangements in the future, she added.