Author:Germaine Lau

It's critical to learn to think for ourselvesElect to ease the burdens of liberal studies

According to a survey conducted by Lingnan University in 2012, only 26 per cent of student respondents felt the subject enhanced their problem-solving skills, and only 22.7 per cent reported that it helped them become better citizens. More than half of the teacher respondents admitted spending a lot of time drilling students for the public exam. The fact that liberal studies is a compulsory exam subject has distorted its nature and defeated its goals.

Besides, as Mr So pointed out, there are two major problems with the subject. First, the scope of the curriculum is too broad. Second, the independent enquiry study (IES) module places impossible burdens on teachers and students. These observations are supported by the Lingnan survey.

It is doubtful that small adjustments to the curriculum can fix the flaws. However, if we substantially narrow the scope and scrap the IES module, can the subject retain its declared value？ After all, liberal studies was introduced as a core subject on the grounds that it enables students to grasp a wide range of issues and construct knowledge by themselves.

The theory of knowledge, a core element of the International Baccalaureate diploma programme, gives us clues on how things could be done differently. Instead of expecting students to comment on a formidable range of current issues, the curriculum focuses on approaches and methodologies in different academic disciplines. But this approach requires a lot of teaching resources, which most local schools may not be able to afford.

Sometimes, policies with admirable goals can turn out badly and holding onto them will not do any good. Making liberal studies a core subject is one example.

Source:SCMP