As many as 4,000 secondary students from Macao will be sent to Zhuhai each year to attend a National Defence Education Camp, Nanfang Daily reports.
According to multiple news outlets, the Macao Education and Youth Development Bureau (also known by its Portuguese initials DSEDJ) has partnered with the Zhuhai National Defense Education and Training Centre to offer the training to Form 2 students.
Some of the activities that students engage in include disassembling and reassembling a gun, handling weapons and practising basic combat skills. As well, they are expected to learn about military and defence history and participate in the flag raising ceremony.
The sixth edition of the camp took place last week, with 309 students from Macao attending a five-day camp.
[See more: Class on national security will feature in Macao’s school curriculum]
“I have become tougher and much more resilient,” said a Form 2 student with the surname Ip, who was interviewed by local media about the experience.
The deputy director of the DSEDJ, Teng Sio Hong, said he hoped the camp could improve “students’ discipline,” and “leadership skills,” as well as give them awareness of national security and the role of the nation’s military
Military training is common in mainland China, with all university students required to undergo a month of such training.
The organisation of the military training camps by the local government follows the Patriotic Education Law that took effect in mainland China earlier this year.
