Can the younger generation be attracted to Cantonese Opera, so that such rich local artistic culture can be sustained and further promoted? What are some ways this can be achieved? How can we use the launch of the new senior secondary curriculum, scheduled in 2009, to integrate Cantonese Opera into the Chinese Language new curriculum?

In the past two years, the project team led by Dr. Ng Fung Ping have been working to address these important questions, through the “Integrating Cantonese Opera in Education Project”. Up to May 2008, seven secondary schools have participated in the Project. Besides learning the scripts and the related performances, students of the participating schools also attended Cantonese Opera performances both in theatres and in outdoor shed stages on off-shore islands. Famous actors and actresses shared their experiences with the students.

Teachers and students of the seven schools gathered at the Project’s “Reporting Session” at HKU campus on 17 May 2008 to share their teaching, learning and cultural experiences. They talked about their teaching experiences, the students’ learning projects, or field trip reports, and students’ stage performances of Cantonese Opera.

A Chinese book of curriculum materials entitled《帝女花教室》(The “Princess Changping” Classroom) compiled under the Project was also launched. 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 as one of their electives for the Chinese Language subjects in the new senior secondary curriculum, scheduled to be implemented next year. Her colleagues also plan on working to incorporate Cantonese Opera in various disciplines like drama, multimedia 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 is funded by the Cantonese Opera Development Fund, 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]

Joint school Show 2008: Teachers and students of the seven schools gathered at the Project’s “Reporting Session” at HKU campus on 17 May 2008 to share their teaching, learning and cultural experiences.

	(From right to left) Dr. K.K. Chan, Deputy Secretary for Education, Education Bureau; Prof. K.M. Cheng, Senior Advisor of HKU Vice-Chancellor’s Office; Dr Stephen Chow Chun-kay, SBS, JP, Chairman of Cantonese Opera Advisory Committee, Home Affairs Bureau; Dr. Ng Fung Ping, Project Leader of Cantonese Opera Seed Project; Mr. Lau Chin Shek.
	Mr. Joseph W. I. Lam, Co-investigator of Cantonese Opera Seed Project; Assistant Professor of Faculty of Education, HKU.
	Dr. Albert Chung, Co-investigator of Cantonese Opera Seed Project; Teaching Fellow of Faculty of Education, HKU.
	Students from 7 collaborating secondary schools presented what they have learned from Cantonese Opera Seed Project through variety performing activities, such as Cantonese Opera performance, singing, recitations, drama etc. The 7 collaborating schools are:
	樂善堂余近卿中學 LOK SIN TONG YU KAN HING SECONDARY SCHOOL 仁濟醫院王華湘中學 YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WONG WHA SAN SECONDARY SCHOOL
	仁濟醫院靚次伯紀念中學 YAN CHAI HOSPITAL LAN CHI PAT MEMORIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL香港真光中學 TRUE LIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL OF HONG KONG 中華基督教會譚李麗芬紀念中學 CCC TAM LEE LAI FUN MEMORIAL
	SECONDARY SCHOOL 金文泰中學 CLEMENTI SECONDARY SCHOOL 將軍澳官立中學 TSEUNG KWAN O GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL
	School teachers were also presented how Cantonese Opera Seed Project inspired the curriculum design and pedagogy of teaching Chinese subject and how it increased the motivation of students to learn Chinese literature.
	Top: Mr. M.S. Lau, Chinese Teacher of YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WONG WHA SAN SECONDARY SCHOOL Middle: Ms. M. F. Sze, Chinese Teacher of CLEMENTI SECONDARY SCHOOL Bottom: Ms. S. W. Yeung, Chinese Teacher of TRUE LIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL OF HONG KONG

Publication: 《帝女花教室》(The “Princess Changping” Classroom)

http://yuejuedu.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_22.html

Related newslinks:
Breathing New Life into an Ancient Art Form
http://yuejuedu.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post.html

RTHK (Hong Kong Heritage): Annemarie Evans hears Dr. Dorothy Ng explaining the importance of re-introduction of Cantonese Opera to Hong Kong youngsters.
http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio3/hongkongheritage/20090502.html

For more information, please visit:
http://yuejuedu.blogspot.com/search/label/%E5%82%B3%E5%AA%92%E5%A0%B1%E9%81%93

Project Leader: Dr. Ng Fung Ping < fpng@hkucc.hku.hk>
Project Team Member: Mr. Joseph Lam < jwilam@hkucc.hku.hk>
Project Team Member: Dr. Albert Chung < alschung@hkucc.hku.hk>
Project Manager: Mr Choi Kai Kwong < kaikwong@gmail.com>
Project Research Executive: Ms Bonnie Chan < yuenyanc@hku.hk>