Thousands boycott classes in national education protest
Students and teachers attend massive rally at Chinese University, saying 'brainwashing' threat remains despite Leung's climbdown
About 8,000 students and teachers took part in a citywide class boycott yesterday to demand the scrapping of the national education curriculum.
Participants attributed the higher-than-expected turnout to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's weak response to the issue.
He announced on Saturday that he would let schools decide whether to teach the controversial subject instead of making it mandatory.
But protesters said "threats of indoctrination" still remained because the government could force schools to implement the policy through measures such as subsidy requirements.
At Chinese University in Sha Tin, where a rally was held, associate professor of sociology Chan Kin-man cut short his three-hour lesson and told his 100 students they could join the boycott, which started in the afternoon. About a fifth of them walked out and Chan promised to hold catch-up classes.
The professor said the high turnout at the demonstration held at Chinese University Mall was a sign of public discontent and distrust in the government. Fellow Chinese University professor Ma Kit-wai stood on a makeshift stage in front of the sea of black-clad protesters, some holding umbrellas in the sweltering heat, and denounced national education for promoting "old-fashioned values".
He said: "It is just outdated to [force] people to do something just because you are Chinese."
