EDB establishes first teacher training and exchange base at South China Normal University in Guangzhou (with photos)
10.1.2024

The Education Bureau (EDB) has established Hong Kong's first teacher training and exchange base at South China Normal University (SCNU) in Guangzhou. A plaque-unveiling ceremony was held today (January 10). Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said that the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address proposed to establish the first teacher training and exchange base on the Mainland for developing regular teacher training, exchange and collaboration projects there. She expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education for its support, and the Department of Education of Guangdong Province and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG) for their guidance and co-ordination, which facilitated the establishment of the first base at SCNU. She pointed out that SCNU offers teacher education with unique characteristics and has been zealously supporting the professional development of Hong Kong teachers. SCNU was the first institution to organise training for Hong Kong teachers since the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland early last year. In the past some eight months, it has organised eight study tours and trained around 900 Hong Kong teachers, including 60 non-Chinese speaking teachers. She said that the EDB would step up co-operation with SCNU and make good use of the university's strengths, professional development platform, training experience, network and resources via its base to develop diversified and high-quality teacher training projects, enabling educators of the two places to learn from one another and thrive together. Today was also the launch day of another new batch of Mainland study tours for Hong Kong newly-joined teachers. Dr Choi hoped that teachers participating in the tours will treasure the opportunity to study on the Mainland, see for themselves the national modernisation development in various aspects, enhance their affection for and sense of belonging to the country, share good stories about the country's education, strengthen the national pride and sense of responsibility and ownership of students and lead them to integrate into the country's overall development proactively. Other guests at the ceremony today included the Director-General of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Dr Zhu Kongjun; the Division Director of the Education, Science and Technology Department of the LOCPG, Mr He Jinhui; the Secretary of the Communist Party of China at South China Normal University Committee, Dr Wang Binwei, and around 150 Hong Kong newly-joined teachers. This morning, Dr Choi toured the Affiliated High School of SCNU to learn about its vision and curriculum characteristics. In the afternoon, she exchanged views with SCNU leaders and met their Hong Kong students. Yesterday (January 9), Dr Choi visited Sun Yat-sen University and met its President, Professor Gao Song, to learn about the latest developments of the University. Tomorrow morning (January 11), Dr Choi will depart for Shenzhen to visit the Longgang Science and Technology Museum together with students participating in the Mainland study tour of the senior secondary subject of Citizenship and Social Development. Members of the tour include around 40 non-Chinese speaking students. They will gain an understanding about the national development and Chinese culture through experiential learning offered by the tour. Dr Choi will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong at noon on the same day.