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, so as to explore historical knowledge and develop positive values and attitudes.

The 2023 Award Scheme was held from April to August 2023, with about 22,200 students from 157 secondary schools participating, which is the highest in the 5 years. A total of 48 students who performed excellently received the “Merit Award”. 11 student teams with 43 students obtained the “Creativity Award”. Besides, 5 student teams with 15 students received the “Academic Award”. Lastly, as an encouragement, 78 schools received the “School Participation Award” for their participating students attained a completion rate of 75% or above.

The awarding criteria for Creativity Award, Academic 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;
• The awarded Academic work should show a thorough understanding of the relevant content of the articles, mastery of different historical skills and the ability to put forward reasonable and impartial personal views;
• Awardees of Merit Award should read at least 6 articles and complete multiple-choice questions with an accuracy of 80% and submit one entry for the article-related extended essay, and perform excellently in the extended essay, and 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 2023’ was held in Loke Yew Hall, The University of Hong Kong on 13 November 2023.

The Secretary for Education, Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, officiated at the Prize-presentation Ceremony and presented prizes to awardees. She 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” and “Academic Award”, to showcase the learning achievements of the awardees.