Hong Kong: Change to language policy poses challenges

[Harold Schiffman]

Change to language policy poses challenges


 LEADER

Feb 23, 2008
Ten years after the introduction of mother-tongue education, the
policy is as controversial and divisive as ever. Most parents still
reject it; and many secondary schools are desperate to achieve
English-medium status. The policy aims to achieve more egalitarian
results by making learning easier for local students. But, far from
boosting the status of Chinese schools, it has reinforced the
entrenched elitism of English-medium ones. Some critics have gone so
far as to link the growing wealth gap and social divide to the
decade-old language policy


More at: http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/?vgnextoid=e4cd1f4b21248110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=teaser&ss=Insight&s=Opinion#top
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