Students of the Hou Kong Middle School in Macao hold a national flag raising ceremony on December 16, 2024. Photo: Lin Xiaoyi/GT

Stepping into Hou Kong Middle School in South China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), the first thing that catches the eye is a wall of the school displaying "Warm Congratulations on the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China." Facing this wall hangs the school's motto, "Loyalty, Diligence, Truthfulness, and Innovation."

At 8 am on every Monday morning, the school's flag-raising team raises the five-star red flag - China's national flag - and the regional flag of the Macao SAR amidst the melody of the national anthem. All teachers and students pay their respects and sing the national anthem.

The ceremony dates back to October 1, 1949, when the school's then-principal Du Nam raised the five-star red flag at the campus on the day of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"At 3 pm on October 1, 1949, when China's national anthem echoed across Tian'anmen Square, Du Nam led all the teachers and students to raise China's national flag at the Hou Kong Middle School, the first in Macao," Iao Tun-ieong, the incumbent principal of the middle school, shared this precious historical event with the Global Times on Monday.

"Principal Du Nam's great act deeply inspired all of us, the teachers and students. For the last 75 years, we have adhered to the patriotic spirit of her, raising the national flag every day. On Mondays, the National Day, our school anniversaries, and other major holidays, we all conduct solemn flag-raising ceremonies," Iao said.

Solid foundation 

"Patriotic education lays a solid social and political foundation for Macao to implement the 'one ­country, two systems' principle 

and guides its practice to always proceed in the correct direction," Chinese President Xi Jinping said during his visit to the Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School on December 19, 2019.

"For schools in Macao, especially Hou Kong Middle School, patriotic education is not just a slogan, nor an abstract concept, but is fully integrated into the school's curriculum practices," Iao pointed out.

The Macao Tower, one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Macao skyline Photo: VCG

Nowadays, the majority of primary and middle schools in Macao hold national flag-raising ceremonies every Monday morning.

Iao noted that when Macao celebrates the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland on December 20, 2024, the national flag will once again rise in the Hou Kong Middle School. He said that the young people are a strong team of patriotism and love for Macao, and the spirit of patriotism and love for Macao will be passed on from generation to generation in Macao. 

Iao noted that the school offers a variety of courses such as "History," "Morality and Citizenship," and "Chinese Culture." Macao's junior and senior middle schools have set Chinese history as a course in class to allow students better know the history of the nation.

In recent years, the education sector in Macao has provided all sorts of extracurricular reading materials, including books about China, for primary and middle school students, as well as some kindergartens.

Macao's Kao Yip Middle School has set up courses and programs to help students better understand China, which has become one of its characteristics. Over the last three years, students have taken on the role of "young diplomats," a program that He Cheng, the Principal of Kao Yip Middle School, describes as "a way to help young people see the world through China's eyes." 

Students learn to sing the national anthem, raise the national flag, draw the national flag, and understand its meaning. Members of the flag-raising team will regularly share their experiences of raising the national flag with the entire school.

"My family feel proud and fully support my participation in the flag-raising activities because they believe it helps me gain a deeper understanding of China. The flag-raising also gives me a strong sense of belonging," Chan Iek Lok, member of Hou Kong Middle School's flag-raising team, told the Global Times on Monday.

"As a flag-raiser, I feel that this is not just an honor but also a responsibility. I hope to set an example and inspire my peers through my actions," Chan said.

Exchanges through education 

The Hou Kong Middle School serves as a window into the educational landscape of Macao. There are many schools in Macao that have adopted the principle of loving the mainland and Macao as their educational mission, integrating it into every aspect of teaching, said Chan Hong, Chairman of the Chinese Educators' Association of Macao in previous interview with the Global Times. 

Chan Hong said that since returning to the motherland, many schools in Macao have organized student exchanges with the mainland, established sister school relationships, and strengthened interactions. As of now, Macao schools have established 536 pairs of sister schools with schools on the mainland.

"These young people from Macao will grow up to pass on this responsibility to the entire Macao society, demonstrating the spirit of patriotism through future practical actions," she said.