Hong Kong’s education authorities have slapped down several schools in the region. Not for not following timetables, being absent or exceeding class capacity. No way. The reason is less orthodox and striking enough to make headlines on media inside and outside China’s borders, including the BBC and ABC networks. TelegramWhat sparked outrage and subsequent public condemnation was the students’ lack of effort in singing the Chinese national anthem.

Their voices sound “soft and weak,” according to inspectors.

A matter of adjustments… and you winThe news also attracted attention from international and local media. South China Morning Post: Hong Kong education authorities have issued warnings to two schools in the region after inspectors said students were not making enough effort to sing the March of the Volunteers, the Republican People’s Anthem. At a third centre, authorities advised teachers to help their students sing the song more often and more safely.

The condemnation attracted attention for two reasons. First, the comments directly addressing students’ attitudes and offering advice to teachers. Second, how the Hong Kong Education Bureau decided to slap down the situation through a series of reports published on its website, which did not take long to reach both domestic and foreign press.

“Very soft”The centres designated by the Chinese authorities are Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church Primary School and Yan Chai Hospital’s Lim Por Yen school. Students reportedly sang the anthem in “soft and weak” voices, and teachers are encouraged to help young people acquire “the habit of singing loudly and together”. At another institution, the Education Department would not comment on students’ tone of voice, but advised that they should be guided in singing with confidence.

The truth is that this is not the first time that Hong Kong authorities have raised the issue. South China Morning Post It turned out that the annual report of the Ministry of National Education for the 2022-2023 academic year warned that the volume of the anthem in some centers was not enough: “A little low.” The text also applauded the “solemn” atmosphere that, in the opinion of inspectors, was felt in schools during flag-raising ceremonies.

More than hymns. Although the comments about the anthem are a matter of curiosity, the Ministry of Education’s reports, prepared after inspecting and interviewing primary and secondary schools, go further. The Hong Kong authorities’ analyses of 20 schools include observations on the content taught to students, the knowledge of teachers and their patriotic approach.

For example, a report from the Lutheran Church Primary School in Hong Kong and Macau warns that classes do not adequately cover “the country’s recent development.” It goes even further. “Apart from Chinese culture, there are few subjects that support national security education,” the document consulted by the clients states. South China Morning Post: “The school still needs to intensify its efforts to popularize national education and implement national security training throughout the center.”

“National Security”. That’s not the only wake-up call the Education Department has left. The document from Kwan Fong Kai Chi, a private school for 90 students aged between 6 and 20, also sends a message to faculty. The audit noted that “some teachers do not demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of national security education,” while its final message read: “The school should strengthen the professional development of teachers and clarify relevant concepts to implement national security education.”

The reports also include some praise. For example, the Education Bureau praised the same school for strengthening national identity among students, imparting knowledge about Chinese culture and organizing trips to the rest of the country. The documents also mention students who “showed confidence” by raising the flag or singing the anthem “loudly and respectfully.” In the same positive tone, it describes a center that held an exhibition on the China special program for parents and teachers and “fostered a sense of belonging to the country.”

Beyond reports. There is another factor that explains why the Department of Education reports have such an impact: context. As the BBC recalls, Hong Kong authorities have strengthened their commitment to “patriotic” education in recent years after suppressing protests in 2019. In any case, their efforts go beyond Hong Kong: China implemented a patriotic education law earlier this year.

“It covers areas such as ideology and politics, history and culture, national symbols, the beauty of the homeland, the Constitution and law, national unity and moral solidarity, national security and defense, as well as the actions of heroes and role models,” the state agency “Youth and Children”.

Images | David Wooo (Flickr) and Kent Kruhoeffer (Flickr)

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