Understanding Ourselves, Our Society, Our Country and Our World

What makes a good citizen in a fast-changing world? At HKUGA College, students explore this question through Citizenship, Economics and Society (CES) in S1–3 and Citizenship and Social Development (CSD) in S4–6. Together, the two subjects help students understand themselves, Hong Kong, our country and the contemporary world, and see how closely these are connected.

Two Subjects, One Learning Journey

• Junior Forms: Citizenship, Economics and Society (CES)
  CES belongs to the Personal, Social and Humanities Education Key Learning Area and replaces the former Life and Society curriculum. It covers three strands: Personal and Social Development, Resources and Economic Activities, and Social Systems and Citizenship. Students build a positive self-understanding and life skills, gain sound financial knowledge and values, and learn about the economic and social affairs of Hong Kong and our country. They also learn that the Constitution and the Basic Law together form the constitutional basis of the HKSAR, and why safeguarding national security matters. This lays the foundation for senior secondary study.
• Senior Forms: Citizenship and Social Development (CSD)
  CSD continues the curriculum philosophy of the former Liberal Studies. Students look at Hong Kong, our country and the contemporary world from multiple perspectives, and connect this with what they learned in junior forms and in other senior subjects. They learn to see how complex issues are, how decisions are made and how competing solutions are weighed. They also learn to make judgments that are well reasoned, lawful and humane, based on facts and evidence.

What We Aim For

Through both subjects, we aim to nurture informed and responsible citizens. We want them to:

• Respect the rule of law
• Cultivate a sense of national identity and a global perspective
• Appreciate and respect diverse cultures and viewpoints
• Become critical, rational and independent thinkers with the skills needed for lifelong learning

Our Learning Focuses

• Experiential Learning × Values Education: Learning by doing, growing through reflection
  Students learn values best by living them, not just hearing about them. Every CES module is built around clear values and attitudes, such as perseverance, empathy, responsibility, law-abidingness and respect for others. Students develop these values through case studies, debates and role plays. Taking on the roles of different stakeholders helps them understand other people's interests and feelings, and builds empathy. After each activity, teachers lead a debrief so students can reflect on their experience and turn it into a sound understanding and positive values. Learning also goes beyond the classroom through forums, visits and, for senior students, a Mainland study tour where they see how Chinese culture is preserved and passed on.
• Game-based Learning: Learning through play, thinking through challenge
  Games make learning interactive and memorable. Students learn through games and interactive e-learning activities on their own devices, which turn abstract ideas into challenges they solve together (e.g. a money-management game in S1 Financial Education or a budget simulation in S2 Public Finance of Hong Kong). Through play, students practise decision-making, teamwork and problem-solving.
• Individualised Learning: Every learner, at their own pace
  Every student learns differently. Our teachers use tailor-made school-based notes and handouts designed for our students. Recommended book lists and extended readings let curious learners go further. Readings, websites and videos on Google Classroom let students preview and review at their own pace, and pre-lesson tasks prepare them to join in actively in class. Self-directed learning, such as note-taking and wide reading, counts in assessment. Teachers give feedback at every stage so each student knows how to improve.

Curriculum at a Glance

Junior Forms: Citizenship, Economics and Society (CES)

Senior Forms: Citizenship and Social Development (CSD)