Media

How can the younger generation be attracted to Cantonese Opera, so that such rich local artistic culture can be sustained and further promoted? Can we make good use of the launch of the new senior secondary curriculum, scheduled next year, to integrate Cantonese Opera into the Chinese Language new curriculum?

In the past two years, scholars of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) have been working to address the above issues through the "Integrated Cantonese Opera in Education" Project. So far, 7 secondary schools have participated in the Project. Besides learning the scripts and the performance art, students of the participating schools were also funded to attend Cantonese Opera performances both in theatres and in outdoor shed stages on off-shore islands. Famous actors and actresses also shared their experiences in the field with the students.

Teachers and students of the 7 schools gathered at the Project's "Reporting Session" at HKU campus today (May 17) to share their teaching, learning and cultural experiences. The reporting of each composes of teachers' teaching experience, students' learning projects or fieldtrip reports, and students' stage performance of Cantonese Opera elements.

A Chinese book of curriculum materials entitled《帝女花教室》(The "Princess Changping" Classroom) compiled under the Project was also launched today. The book is now available to local secondary schools for teaching reference.

Project Leader Dr Ng Fung Ping said she hoped that more schools would provide Cantonese Opera learning as one of their electives for the Chinese Language subject in the new senior secondary curriculum, scheduled to be implemented next year. Her colleagues would also further work on incorporating Cantonese Opera elements in various disciplines like drama, multi-media writing, cultural appreciation and script study.

"We expect that our young generations would not only regard Cantonese Opera as a school subject. Rather, through its learning in and out of classroom, they will know how to appreciate such rich artistic culture of ours, and even help further promote this traditional art," said Dr Ng, who is also Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Education in HKU.

The Project, operated by HKU's Centre for Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research, is funded by the HKU Culture & Humanities Fund and the Yam Pak Charitable Foundation. The publication of The "Princess Changping" Classroom is financed by the Cantonese Opera Development Fund. [ Details of the Project, in Chinese, can be viewed from:- http://yuejuedu.blogspot.com 〕　

For media enquiries, please contact:-
- HKU External Relations Office Manager (Media) Ms Denise Wong (Tel: 2859 2600 / E-mail: denise.wong@hku.hk );
- Project Manager Mr Choi Kai Kwong (Tel: 9123 5941)
- Project Research Executive Ms Bonnie Chan (Tel: 9019 9990)