According to a report by Hong Kong Wen Wei Po on the 14th, in addition to the Citizenship and Social Development subject trip participated by all senior secondary students, the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government also organizes mainland exchange programs covering different themes and visit points for students of different grades. The Education Bureau revealed that the "Mainland Exchange Program for Primary and Secondary Students" will be resumed in the new school year starting in September, with 109,000 quotas. At the same time, the quota for the Citizenship and Social Development subject trip for senior secondary students will also increase to 72,000, with a total budget of more than HK$230 million for both.
The Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government will resume the mainland exchange program for primary and secondary schools in the next school year. (Image source: Sing Tao.com file photo)
The report stated that the document submitted by the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government to the Special Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on the 13th stated that with the resumption of normal customs clearance with the mainland, the "Mainland Exchange Program for Primary and Secondary Students", which was suspended due to the epidemic, will resume in the 2023/24 school year, involving 109,000 quotas and a budget expenditure of HK$115 million. The Education Bureau will strengthen publicity and promotion through different channels, including briefing sessions and experience sharing sessions, leaflets, and the Education Bureau's website, to encourage schools to actively arrange students to participate.
The itinerary of the program covers different provinces and cities in the mainland, including 22 provinces, 4 autonomous regions, and 4 municipalities directly under the central government. The content covers themes such as culture, history, economy, geography, sports, music, art, and education, allowing students to personally experience the development of different aspects of the country from multiple perspectives, deepen what they have learned in the classroom, and strengthen their national identity.
The Wen Wei Po report mentioned that the mainland study tour for the senior secondary Citizenship and Social Development subject was launched in April, allowing students to personally understand the national conditions and the latest development of the country through field trips, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture, and enhancing their national identity. The Education Bureau stated that the first batch of 50,000 students will participate in related study tours from April to August, and the relevant quota budget for the 2023/24 school year will increase by 44% to 72,000, involving a sum of HK$116 million.