Abstract
Business education has come a long way, from its roots in vocational education; and is now becoming an essential part of the school curriculum. As its significance continues to be recognised, business education needs to respond to dynamic changes and to be future oriented. This paper first discusses the relationship between business education and general education—whether business education should be treated as part of vocational education or part of academic education. It then examines changes in the business curriculum, suggesting the integration of academic and vocational aspects as well as a better link between business subjects. This paper ends by stressing what can be done to further develop Hong Kong secondary business education in the future.
Highlights
From its beginnings as an entrepot in 1841, Hong Kong has become one of the world’s leading financial and business centres in the Asia-Pacific region, a leading financial and commercial “hub” and a gateway between China and the rest of the world
As its significance continues to be recognised, business education needs to respond to dynamic changes and to be future-oriented
The old image of business education with the primary aims of producing clerks and secretaries is being replaced by a higher mission of preparing students who are able to pursue further studies in tertiary institutions or become business professionals in the future
Summary
From its beginnings as an entrepot in 1841, Hong Kong has become one of the world’s leading financial and business centres in the Asia-Pacific region, a leading financial and commercial “hub” and a gateway between China and the rest of the world. This paper is part of a large project; examining at the future development of business education in Hong Kong secondary schools. The old image of business education with the primary aims of producing clerks and secretaries is being replaced by a higher mission of preparing students who are able to pursue further studies in tertiary institutions or become business professionals in the future. To achieve this goal, much needs to be done. In Hong Kong, the secondary business curriculum consisted of both general education and vocational preparation (CDC, 1991). In a group discussion at a conference for business educators, it was agreed that business education in the secondary school curriculum was definitely part of the general education (Cheung & Lewis, 1995). Cheung’s (1998) study confirmed that secondary business educators would like to see secondary business education as a significant part of general education
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