Liberal Arts & Citizenship and Social Development
1. Curriculum
1.1 Liberal Arts
Curriculum aims
The aims of Liberal Arts (Grade 7 - 9), a school-based cross key-learning areas curriculum, are:
- to develop in students a positive self-understanding, enhance competence to meet daily and future challenges, and pursue their goals and aspirations;
- to enable students to make decisions for the optimal use of personal and community resources;
- to develop students to become informed and responsible citizens to contribute to the development of a caring and just society; and
- to cultivate in students’ sensitivity, interests and concern for local, national and global issues.
Curriculum Framework
Liberal Arts covers the learning elements of personal development, Hong Kong’s development, Chinese and foreign cultures and global vision. It is composed of core modules and extended modules. Core modules consist of essential learning elements that students are expected to master in the learning process, while the extended parts provide them opportunities to explore topics related to the foundation part, so as to broaden or deepen their learning and meet their interests.
Liberal Arts adopts the enquiry-based learning approach and diversified teaching strategies like role-playing, project-based learning etc. Students will be interested in some social and world phenomenon. They can apply their knowledge of different disciplines by using different analysis frameworks taught in this subject to analyse different controversial issues so as to construct concrete arguments and cultivate their critical thinking.
Medium of Instruction
To let students explore different social issues with their most familiar language, A-School started to provide both EMI (English as the medium of instruction) and CMI (Chinese as the medium of instruction) classes for students to choose since 2017. Students can apply to enroll in LA (EMI) class in Term 2 of Grade 6 according to their personal preference and language proficiency, while Grade 7 new students can do so when they are completing their registrations.
1.2 Citizenship and Social Development
Curriculum aims
The aims of Citizenship and Social Development are to help students:
- To enhance understanding of society, the country, the human world, the physical environment and related knowledge;
- To develop multiple perspectives on contemporary mature topics in different contexts (e.g. cultural, social, economic, political and technological contexts);
- To become independent thinkers; be able to adapt to the ever-changing personal, social, national and global circumstances and construct knowledge; understand the complexities of the topics and the challenges and processes involved in decision-making for making law-abiding, rational and affective analysis, and learning how to handle conflicting values;
- To inherit Chinese culture and heritage in a pluralistic society, deepen understanding and sense of identity of individuals with Chinese nationality and Chinese citizenship, and at the same time appreciate, respect and embrace diversity in cultures and views;
- To develop skills relevant to life-long learning and strengthen their ability to integrate and apply knowledge and skills, including critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving skills, communication skills, collaboration skills, data management skills, self-management skills, self-learning skills, and information technology skills
- To develop positive values and attitudes towards life, so that they can become informed and responsible citizens of society, the country and the world
Curriculum Framework
The curriculum comprises three themes, namely “Hong Kong under ‘One Country, Two Systems’”, “Our Country since Reform and Opening-up” and “Interconnectedness and Interdependence of the Contemporary World”. They serve as platforms for students to explore related topics for a more coherent understanding of situations of the society, the country and the contemporary world. Students should also participate in the Mainland study tour, as it is an integral part of the curriculum of Citizenship and Social Development.
The curriculum framework for this subject covers three themes:
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Grade |
Theme |
Topic |
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10 |
Hong Kong under “One Country Two Systems” (45-50 hours) |
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Characteristics of cultural diversity of Hong Kong society |
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11 |
Our Country since Reform and Opening-up (45-50 hours) |
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Participations in international affairs |
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12 |
Interconnectedness and Interdependence of the Contemporary World (45-50 hours) |
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Sustainable development Public health and human health |
Mainland Study Tour (Not involving public assessment)
In order to let students know more about the recent development of China, students will have the chance to have a mainland study tour within these three years program.
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Theme |
Topic |
Learning Focus |
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Chinese Culture and Modern Life |
Nature of traditional Chinese Culture |
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Introduction to the Mainland study tour |
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2. Learning activities
Allowing students to experience social phenomena discussed in class is one of key learning strategies of Liberal Studies/ Citizenship and Social Development. Through different types of learning activities like school-based project-based learning, inter-school creative design thinking competitions, inter-school debate competitions (Chinese debate team), Shatin Flower Belt and Taiping Qingjiao Cultural Studies, Hong Kong Basic law Secondary School Quiz and Project learning Competition and the visit of Legislative Council (LA Club). They allow students to get out of the campus and know more about the society.
DebateTo promote critical thinking skills as well as nurture gifted students, our school integrates debate into the teaching of Liberal Arts and Citizenship and Social Development subjects. Regular debate activities are conducted both inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, our Chinese Debate Team participates in various inter-school Chinese debate competitions, cultivating a culture of critical thinking on campus from different perspectives.
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Social Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is one of our key learning strategies. Liberal Arts and Liberal Studies departments collaborated with LS Club to organize different visits, such as:
- Participating in the Hong Kong outdoor real-life puzzle game “West venture” to lead students to experience the reality of poverty hidden in the community through observations and live mystery games.
- Visiting the Legislative Council and sitting LegCo meetings.
- Experiencing extreme poverty by spending $30 on food for one day organized by Oxfam.
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Design Thinking
The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong and D.H. Chen Foundation have joined hands to initiate the "2022-23 Youth Impact Award" The aim is to inspire students to understand the challenges faced by vulnerable groups in society, cultivate community awareness, and listen to their needs. In addition, students have utilized design thinking to create products or services that address these issues.
Our schoolmates have been working tirelessly. Since November 2022 until now, they have spent over half a year participating in multiple workshops, reaching out to numerous external stakeholders, and making every effort to improve their plans."
Among them, the 'Creative Designers' composed of 8th-grade students, despite their young age, managed to defeat teams from Harmony Secondary School and True Light Middle School, as well as several teams composed of 10th and 11th-grade students, and reached the finals, competing for the prestigious championship.
Mock Court Competition
The competition is organized by the Hong Kong Inter-School Mock Trial and Mock Court Association. They have been dedicated to providing opportunities for local secondary school and university students to engage with law and courtroom advocacy. Through the mediation competition, students learn the concept of "win-win" - participants acquire fundamental knowledge of mediation and apply the learned mediation skills in their daily campus or family life. They strive to resolve disputes and differences through negotiation.
This year, our school participated in the competition for the first time and we are honored to have achieved a top-three ranking along with St. Paul's College and Carmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary School, receiving the prestigious award for "Best Performance."
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Group photo with Dr. Lui Che-ying (Head and Assistant Professor of the Department of Law and Business, Shue Yan University) |
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Group photo of students participating in the Hong Kong Inter-School Mediation Competition |
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Students with their teacher and mentor at the award ceremony |
3. Students’ Achievements
Our students’ outstanding performance were well recognized and awarded in various inter-school competitions:
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Competitions |
Organizers |
Awards |
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Debating Mock Court Competition |
中學辯論比賽 2022「馮壽如盃」 |
Yuen Long Town Hall Northwest District Joint Youth Association |
Best Debater 10E KWOK Yat Kiu |
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第四屆《全港中學學界辯論比賽》 |
Hong Kong Schools Debate Federation |
Best Debater 10D YEUNG Yat Fung |
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The 12th Fun Cup |
Holy Trinity College |
Best Debater 10D YEUNG Yat Fung |
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Hong Kong Inter-School Mediation Competition 2023 |
Hong Kong Inter-School Mock Trial and Mock Court Association |
Best Performance 9D 24 LIU Sum Kiu 9D 29 TSANG Yuen Ying |
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Design-thinking competitions |
2020-2021 Youth Impact Award |
The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong and D.H. Chen Foundation |
Merit Award 9E CHU Wing Ting Jennifer 9B FU Cheuk You |
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2021-2022 Youth Impact Award |
Merit Award 8A WONG Nga Yin 8E CHEUNG Yu Yuet Jamie Merit Award 10B YAU Charlene 10C LEE Ching Yu Rachel |
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2022-2023 |
Merit Award 9D CHAN Dang Yee Alyssa 9D KWOK Nga Ting 9D LEE Yan Wah 9D LO Ho Yau 9D LIU Sum Kiu 9E AU Chung Yan
Bronze Award 11A CHAU Yin Ki 11A LAU Ka Ching Vanessa 11E LEE Ching Yu Rachel 11E MAN Hiu Yu
TOP 8 Teams in Hong Kong* 8E LI Nga Yu 8B DENG Angela Shudan 8B LAM Cheuk Ki Hebe 8C CHONG Hiu Nam 8C YU Wing Kiu
*The competition is still ongoing, and now they have received 10,000 Hong Kong dollars to test and implement their ideas. The results will be announced in October 2023. |
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Basic law competition |
“Understanding the Constitution, the Basic Law-Walking with the Rule of Law” Hong Kong Secondary School Quiz and Project learning Competition 2020-2021 |
Hong Kong Shine Tak Foundation & New Territories School Heads Association |
Overall Performance – Merit Award Individual Online Quiz – School Merit Award |