Hong Kong abandons mandatory classes seen as pro-Beijing

A student addresses a crowd in front of government headquarters in Hong Kong on Friday during a protest against plans to introduce Chinese patriotism classes.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• It's up to the individual schools, Hong Kong government said


• The curriculum is called "Moral and National Education"


• Residents have been angered by the subject matter

Hong Kong (CNN) -- The Hong Kong government scrapped a mandatory plan making school children take pro-Chinese mainland patriotism courses.

C.Y. Leung, the city's chief executive, said individual schools will have the option to adopt the controversial curriculum called "Moral and National Education."

"We're giving the authority to the schools," he said. "This is very much in line with our school-based education policy."

The government relented after thousands of people protested the courses, with many residents saying it amounts to "brainwashing" impressionable young minds with propaganda. Hong Kong has a large degree of autonomy from the Beijing government.

The course material had been outlined in a government booklet.

China's ruling party is "progressive, selfless and united," the booklet said. It criticized multi-party systems as bringing disaster to countries such as the United States. The booklet also makes no mention of major events that many view as integral to China's history, such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Source & Image : CNN World