在新高中學制改革中，最引起公眾討論的是新設立的通識教育科。它成為了四個必修科之一。從表面來看，這個學科的目標是與整個教育改革的理念很配合，但是如果我們仔細地分辨，不難看到設立這個必修學科的理據，以及內容選取上，都有不足的地方。而更令人關注的是不少中學在政府的宣傳攻勢下，紛紛地在初中階段，設立通識教育科。這種一窩蜂的舉措如果是未經深思熟慮的話，可能會帶來很多負面的影響。Liberal Studies has been designed as one of the four compulsory subjects of the new senior secondary curriculum. The aims and objectives of this "new" senior secondary school subject are, on paper, in line with the essence of the current educational reform in Hong Kong. However, a close review of its development and proposed contents reveals that the rationale for establishing this integrated subject and the content coverage are far from convincing. What makes the situation even more worrying is that the promotional strategy of the Government for establishing this subject has been so powerful and successful at some schools are creating a "liberal studies" subject in their junior secondary curriculum without careful consideration of the potential adverse effect of such a move.[Copyright of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre Journal is the property of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre at http://www.edb.org.hk/hktc]
