Village schools used to be a common sight throughout the New Territories and outlying islands, offering basic education to children in rural and fishing villages. Following urban development, the number of village schools dropped from the post-WWII peak of more than 800 to less than 20 today. The remaining schools have transformed in various ways to respond to the present demands of school operation and changing educational needs.

This book traces the origin of these schools and the development of education in the New Territories and outlying islands. Drawing from personal interviews, it chronicles the memories and anecdotes of teachers and alumni, portraying what it was like to come of age in the countryside. The book takes readers back to the last century to experience the lives of village school students, at a time when teachers and pupils walked through crisscrossing farmland paths to get to school, when pupils from different year levels shared a classroom, and when after-school activities included helping with the family’s farm or fishing business.

The book also demonstrates how the village schools in the area interacted with the social culture of the wider community. The history and development of the villages are pieced together, illustrating how schooling and teacher education have grown and evolved alongside changes to these communities. It offers an in-depth account of traditional customs and festivities, highlights milestones of educational development in the region, and reports on the present state of these village schools.