A case study of preparing global citizens through integrated studies in Hong Kong primary schools: Intention and tensions

A case study of preparing global citizens through integrated studies in Hong Kong primary schools: Intention and tensions

• Lo, Tin Yau Joe The Hong Kong Institute of Education
• Po, Sum Cho The Hong Kong Institute of Education

2009

5th CITIZED International Conference: Globalising Citizenship Education: Ambitions and Realities (2009: The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong, China)

• G Curriculum, Teaching & Learning: Specific Disciplines
  • GJ Interdisciplinary

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Primary Education

To prepare children for the globalized world, General Studies, an integrated subject in the primary curriculum stresses on the provision of “learning experiences that enable them to construct knowledge and develop a global perspective, and develop life-long learning skills” (CDC, 2002, p.2). A separate strand, Global Understanding and the Information Era has been incorporated into the curriculum to strengthen the global dimension of the subject. However, the literature shows that citizenship education has long been an underdeveloped curriculum area in Hong Kong. The development of global citizenship, a core area of study in citizenship education, has also been affected by the great emphasis on the fostering of children's national identity in the post-colonial period. Being a contested concept, global citizenship causes great confusions to teachers in developing and implementing global studies in schools. To evaluate the role of General Studies and its effectiveness in enhancing global citizenship, this paper reviews the global learning elements in the General Studies curriculum in a primary school. This paper further seeks to describe the "lived curriculum" on global learning based on the results of a critical examination of selected classroom practices in the related strands of study. Building on the initial findings, this paper discusses the tensions in promoting global education through General Studies and the possible ways for further developing this integrated subject as a vehicle for enhancing global citizenship in Hong Kong primary schools.

Paper presented at the 5th CITIZED International Conference: Globalising Citizenship Education: Ambitions and Realities

• English

Conference Papers

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/7a72dcf7

2015-10-08