Edmund Ho Hau Wah, a vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said on Thursday that parents and those in the patriotic camp should “lead by example” when teaching youths national education and instilling a sense of patriotism in them. Ho also said he disagreed with the idea that national education was a form of brainwashing.
Speaking at a gathering hosted by the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau about a review of the recent meetings of the CPPCC and the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, Ho stressed the importance of national education for local youths so that they will know more about the nation.
“I think that national education is very important. I don’t think it is any kind of brainwashing or forcibly instilling a specific thought into the next generation,” said Ho. “As leaders and representatives of the patriotic camp, we should lead by example and equip ourselves with knowledge we should have as patriots.”
Ho also said that parents were equally responsible for teaching their children about loving the country. “If you want the next generation to be good, then we should take up the responsibilities we have now,” he said.
Macau’s first chief executive also said that the nation had changed significantly in the past few decades, adding that national education was objective and rich in content. He said that locals would know how to “love the county and love Macau” if they know more about the nation and its progress.
“As Chinese, there are reasons for [locals] to be proud [of their culture and history],” Ho said.
The meeting, which was open to the media, was attended by Macau’s deputies to the NPC and National Committee of the CPPCC as well as other officials and community leaders from Macau and the mainland including Liaison Office Director Li Gang. (macaunews/macaupost)
