SSPS brings the buzz to Primary Humanities
Officiating guests and speakers pose for a group photo. From third left to second right: school principal Dr Shirley Cheng Ka-po, school principal Ms Fong Tze-hang, Mr Paul Lee Kin-wan from the EDB, Professor Stephen Chiu Wing-kai and Dr Benjamin Li Yuet-man from SSPS.
Over 120 principals and teachers from 95 primary schools, government officials from the EDB, and teaching staff from SSPS attend the half-day conference.
The Professional Exchange Conference on Primary Humanities with the theme of “Embracing the Spirit of the Curriculum and Exploring Teaching Innovations (把握課程精神 探索教學創新)” made a significant impact with over 120 principals and teachers from 95 primary schools, government officials from the Education Bureau (EDB), teaching staff responsible for the new double-degree programme integrating sociology and Primary Humanities, and NGO workers in attendance. Held by the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) on 24 June, the event consolidated the department’s position in the Primary Humanities community.
Professor Stephen Chiu Wing-kai, Programme Leader of the new BSocSc(SCS)&BEd(PHM) double-degree programme, remarks that with the imminent launch of the new Primary Humanities curriculum, the conference is particularly timely, providing principals, panel heads and front-line teachers with the opportunity to share their experiences in teaching humanities in primary schools.
Professor Stephen Chiu Wing-kai, Programme Leader of the new Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sociology and Community Studies and the Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Primary Humanities (BSocSc(SCS)&BEd(PHM)) double-degree programme, welcomed all conference participants in his opening address. “Much of the teaching content in the six strands of the new Primary Humanities curriculum has been restructured from the original General Studies curriculum. With the imminent launch of the new curriculum in primary schools, the conference comes at an opportune time, allowing principals, panel heads and front-line teachers to share their insights and experiences in teaching this content,” said Professor Chiu, who is also the Associate Dean (International Engagement) of FLASS.
Following Professor Chiu’s opening remarks, Mr Paul Lee Kin-wan, Chief Curriculum Development Officer from the Kindergarten and Primary Section of the Curriculum Development Institute of the Education Bureau, reviewed in his keynote the development of the new Primary Humanities curriculum since it was introduced in the Chief Executive’s Policy Address in 2023.
He emphasised that “Cultivating Values for Leaders of Tomorrow, Enquiry Learning and Making Connection with Life” (「立德樹人、 探究學習、連繫生活」) is the rationale of the new curriculum. He outlined the Primary Humanities Curriculum Guide and Support Measures announced on the same day of the conference and shared advice for implementing the curriculum effectively.
The government announces the Primary Humanities Curriculum Guide (the Guide) and support measures on the same day as the conference is held. Mr Paul Lee Kin-wan from the Education Bureau outlines the Guide and offers advice on implementing the new curriculum.
The Policy Address 2023 announced that the General Studies curriculum for Hong Kong primary schools will be replaced with Primary Science and Primary Humanities. Primary schools will implement the new Primary Humanities curriculum for Primary 1 and 4 students in the 2025/26 school year and extending to all levels by the 2027/28 school year. The new Primary Humanities curriculum aims to cultivate humanistic qualities and a comprehensive understanding of individuals, families, our country and the world. The six strands covered are “Health and Living”, “Environment and Living”, “Financial Management and Economy”, “Community and Citizenship”, “Our Country and Me” and “The World and Me”.
Ms Fong Tze-hang, Head of HHCKLA Buddhist Chan Shi Wan Primary School, shares her school’s experience of incorporating elements of education for sustainable development into Primary Humanities curriculum in a cross-curricular approach.
Dr Shirley Cheng Ka-po, Head of CCC Mong Wong Far Yok Memorial Primary School, shares her school’s PEARL (Perseverance, Excellence, Responsibility, Appreciation and Love) framework, and how it is used to teach the twelve priority values and attitudes promoted by the Education Bureau.
After Mr Lee’s speech, Ms Fong Tze-hang, Head of HHCKLA Buddhist Chan Shi Wan Primary School, and her team shared her school’s experience in incorporating elements of education for sustainable development into Primary Humanities curriculum in a cross-curricular approach. She said that nurturing students’ hearts—a heart full of compassion, empathy and appreciation—is her school’s ethos. “Cultivation of these values forms the base of our sustainability education,” Ms Fong said.
Dr Shirley Cheng Ka-po, Head of CCC Mong Wong Far Yok Memorial Primary School, and her team talked about how to use cross-disciplinary approach to achieve learning objectives of Primary Humanities. Dr Cheng explained how her school uses the PEARL (Perseverance, Excellence, Responsibility, Appreciation and Love) framework to teach the twelve priority values and attitudes advocated by the Education Bureau.
Alongside the three keynote speeches, the half-day conference also included six workshops where experienced in-service teachers and academic staff from SSPS shared their knowledge and experience in teaching national geography, national history, and e-learning.
Ms Yvonne Chung Choi-fun, an experienced secondary school geography teacher, gives advice on teaching national geography in one of the six workshops.
Dr Benjamin Li Yuet-man, Associate Programme Leader of the BSocSc(SCS)&BEd(PHM) programme, said SSPS has been working very hard to develop the new double-degree undergraduate programme, PGDE and in-service professional development programmes (PDP) to train teaching professionals for the new Primary Humanities curriculum. “Many teachers have told me that acquiring the breadth of knowledge in personal health, finance, environment and national history demanded by the new humanities programme is very challenging. Our undergraduate programme, PGDE and PDPs aim to boost the confidence of future and current teachers by equipping them with the required knowledge and pedagogy,” he said.
Dr Li remarked that SSPS has drawn on its strength in sociology and community studies when designing the new double-degree and other teacher training programmes. “We will provide students with a framework to integrate the various knowledge relating to the six strands of Primary Humanities. The framework will help students connect the different fields of knowledge, and enhance their ability to deliver an engaging learning experience for students,” he said.
In one workshop, Dr Benjamin Li Yuet-man shares tips on making history learning engaging. He says: “Individual historical events are like dots. We need to connect the dots into a line to demonstrate the connection between different events. The lines will form a plane which represents the broader context in which historical events occur.”
To meet the strong demand for continuous teacher training in Primary Humanities, SSPS has increased its places for professional development programmes to 140 in the 2025/26 academic year. “In September 2025, the first batch of students of the new BSocSc(SCS)&BEd(PHM) double-degree programme will start their studies here. While SSPS’ Primary Humanities team is gearing up to prepare for this, we will continue to work with the EDB, teachers and schools to contribute to teaching and learning of the subject,” Professor Chiu concluded.
Click here to understand more about the five-year BSocSc(SCS)&BEd(PHM) programme, and click here to understand more about PGDE (Primary Humanities) and here for Certificate in Professional Development Programme on Teaching Primary Humanities.
