Pro-democracy protests have seen students take an active interest in Hong Kong politics.Following the debates on political reform, liberal studies has now become the new battlefield, said education-sector lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen on Monday.
Speaking in Admiralty, Ip said that Hong Kong students have shown their sense of justice and independent thinking throughout Occupy Central, which is the purpose of education.
Student activist group Scholarism posted a statement on its Facebook page on Monday, saying: "It's like running in the opposite direction of the purpose of education if the government deprives students' right to get to know society through liberal studies."
Chinese-language daily Ming Pao reported that some senior Hong Kong officials were unhappy with the liberal studies section on rule of law as they think it encouraged students to join the protests.
On Sunday, the Professional Teachers' Union said that it would be "extremely foolish" of the government to blame the subject.
In a statement on Sunday, the Education Bureau said the curriculum was under review and the results would be released in July. They added that the review has no connection to Occupy Central.
Local media reported that four people were arrested on Saturday. The four Occupy Central supporters, aged 17, 19, 25 and 26, got into a physical conflict with anti-Occupiers in Tseung Kwan O. They were arrested for obstructing police officers' execution of duties.