The aims of the Award Scheme are to encourage students to learn history through reading, and create a favourable reading atmosphere and culture in school; and to arouse students’ interest in learning history, enable them to engage in self-directed learning through the e-platform, acquire historical knowledge and develop positive values and attitudes.

The 2021 Award Scheme was held from April to July 2021, with over 13 500 students from 143 secondary schools participating, which is the highest in the three years. A total of 67 students who performed excellently were awarded the “Certificate of Merit”; while 10 student teams, with a total number of 28 students, were awarded the “Certificate of Creativity”.

The awarding criteria for Creativity Award and Merit Award are as follows:

• The awarded Creativity Work should show originality and illustrate the positive values shown in the article in a creative way, and can concisely introduce the concept of the Creative Work;
• Awarded students of Merit Award should complete all multiple choice questions with an accuracy of 90% or above, and perform excellently in all short questions in both Compulsory and Optional Sections, show a thorough understanding of the content of the articles, mastery of different historical skills and the ability to put forward reasonable and impartial personal views.

The ‘Prize-presentation Ceremony of the Junior Secondary History e-Reading Award Scheme 2021’ was held in Loke Yew Hall, The University of Hong Kong on 13 September 2021. The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, officiated at the Prize-presentation Ceremony and presented prizes to awarded students. He commended their excellent performance and encouraged them to explore the pleasure of studying history through reading, as well as nurture a high standard of moral values.  After the Prize-presentation Ceremony, awardees and their respective teachers shared their learning experiences and insights. There was also an exhibition in the venue, displaying the winning entries of the “Creative Award”, to showcase the learning achievements of the awardees. Please click the link ‘Ceremony Highlights’ below to view the highlights of the activity on the day.