Beijing trip a valuable lesson for pupils

(The Standard P.9  28 Dec 2012)Students from the Diocesan Boys' School (拔萃男書院) who visited three Beijing educational institutions (北京教育學院) during the Christmas holidays said the trip widened their horizons (眼界) and enhanced (增加) their cultural understanding(文化理解).

Some in the group of 12 expressed (表示) a desire (渴望) to study in the mainland.

The exchange tour to Peking University, Tsinghua University and Beijing Jingshan School was arranged by the school's Greater China Affairs Office, which was established (建於) in September following inquiries from students about study opportunities in the mainland and Taiwan.

The five-day tour, from December 20 to 25, allowed the Diocesan boys time to check facilities and attend (出席) some classes at Jingshan, a prestigious (有名望的) primary and secondary school.

Secondary Five pupil Jun Ng said he was impressed(受到感動) by the diligence (勤奮) of mainland students.

"They seized every minute to revise what they had learned, even during a short lesson break of 10 minutes. They were very attentive (專心) during their lessons unlike (不像) many Hong Kong students."

However, he was surprised by the absence of flushing (沒有水沖廁) toilets on campus.

Another Secondary Five student, Lawrence Law Chun- kit, said the power supply was shut off at 11pm.

Ng said he is interested in studying law at Peking University, especially as the entrance requirements (收生的要求) for Hong Kong students are lower, the scholarship (獎學金) amount attractive and there is a high chance of being admitted to master's degree programs.

On the minus side, Ng said, there might be difficulty in adapting (適應) to textbooks in Chinese and the living environment.

Law said the differences in the two legal systems are another concern.

Teacher Chan Kam-wing, the office's chief coordinator, said a student told him after the tour that Peking and Tsinghua universities are far more prestigious  than (有名望的遠遠的多於) those in Hong Kong.

Office coordinator Mavis Lam Siu-kit added: "The mainland's curriculum is more knowledge-based (知識庫), which is different to the applied learning (實用的知識) approach (近似) in Hong Kong."

Beatrice Siu