If for no other reason, Chinese moral thinking extends well beyond one school of thought. We believe that civic education should promote the development of a caring society. The specific values embodying an ethic of care should permeate every stage of the education system. These values are also deeply imbedded in Chinese culture and philosophy. The quality of teaching is the key to high standards in schools.
Dull teachers make learning boring.
In particular, if the TOC is to be successful, teachers must be able to cope with its contents and methods of teaching. With population expected to rise - in particular, with more youngsters coming from the mainland, there will be tremendous pressure on the school system as a whole. Hong Kong will need many more teachers to cope. It will be up to the Government to clearly articulate the purpose of the reform and how it is to be implemented. However, both the public and private sectors can assist in the process by engaging schools, parents and employers in explaining the need for urgent change.