Conduit for Engagement? School Curriculum and Youth Political Participation in Hong Kong. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Trevor Tsz-lok; Chiu, Stephen Wing-kai
• Is Part Of: Young. Volume 26:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 161
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Civic education -- politicization -- youth activism -- liberal studies -- Hong Kong; Youth -- Research -- Periodicals; Youth -- Scandinavia -- Periodicals; Jeunesse -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Jeunesse -- Scandinavie -- Périodiques; Jeune; Mondialisation; Condition sociale; Recherche; Europe; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 305.242
• DOI: 10.1177/1103308817711533
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1103-3088

Abstract

Learning about political issues through the new core subject of Liberal Studies (LS) in senior secondary education in Hong Kong has become 'socially problematic' amid mounting concern of politicians and pundits who see a link between such learning and the recent waves of student protests. Using data from in-depth interviews with senior secondary students in Hong Kong, we explore how politically disengaged and engaged youth experienced their LS learning and how they perceived and made sense of the relationship between LS learning and political participation or its absence. Our findings indicate that while there appear to be circumstances that give rise to diversified learning experiences, LS has little bearing on youth political participation or otherwise.