Many authorities worldwide urge teachers to talk less and give students more chances to discuss and engage in active learning. In Hong Kong, the incentive for these reforms at primary level has been to reduce class sizes. But change comes slowly.

Teaching has been called “one of the most conservative of all professions". In a lecture in the Rayson Huang Theatre at the University of Hong Kong on May 31 (5 p.m.), Professor Maurice Galton will examine some reasons for teachers' apparent reluctance to change their classroom practices and suggest possible solutions to the seemingly intractable problem.

Teachers cling to ancient techniques?