About Us

Growing with you since the 1950s

Leading Hong Kong education company Modern Educational Research Society, Ltd. (‘Modern’) has been publishing quality learning resources since 1957. Keeping with the times, we believe in providing pertinent, enriching content and resources for students, teachers, and families. Our publishing profile includes textbooks and learning resources for over 15 subjects for the kindergarten, primary, and secondary levels. Apart from curriculum-based publications, we also have book collections and services that enrich students’ overall learning experience. With our strong local and international network of subject experts, industry collaborators, and fellow colleagues in education, we aim to become the foremost learning platform with print and digital solutions that will expand the horizons for knowledge-seekers in school and at home.

Our Mission

To inspire the minds and hearts of our future generations by fulfilling the changing needs of learning via excellent research, responsive production, responsible publishing, and community collaboration.

Our Values

Learning First:

We encourage learning by producing quality and inclusive materials for teachers, students, and parents.
Research-centric:

Our learning platform is powered by in-house research and a network of education and industry experts.
Collaborative-focused:

Together with local and international community partners, we facilitate knowledge exchange and create comprehensive learning opportunities.
Pioneering and Relevant:

We continue to incorporate new, relevant developments in learning methodologies and technologies into our learning materials.

Related Companies

Modern Education Digital Media Ltd.

Since its establishment in 1999, Modern Education Digital Media , Ltd. (MEDM) has collaborated with local and international education, technology, and cultural organisations to develop quality, innovative digital education resources. MEDM develops product content and functions that take into consideration different market needs and specificities. It works with local primary and secondary schools to implement digital learning initiatives, including online classes, VR tours, and online quizzes. MEDM frequently co-organises lectures and exhibitions with societal partners to share the latest industry news.

Happy Mind Ltd.

Happy Mind Ltd. supplies textbooks, practice workbooks, reading books, and other supplementary learning materials to schools, students, and parents. The company’s experienced and capable team covers logistics management, delivery, and quality customer services. It has recently launched an online platform that provides an easier and more convenient purchasing experience for our customers.

China Book Company

China Book Company supplies textbooks, practice workbooks, reading books, and other supplementary learning materials to schools, students, and parents. The company’s experienced and capable team covers logistics management, delivery, and quality customer services. It has recently launched an online platform that provides an easier and more convenient purchasing experience for our customers.

Man Fung Book Store

Man Fung Book Store supplies textbooks, practice workbooks, reading books, and other supplementary learning materials to schools, students, and parents. The company’s experienced and capable team covers logistics management, delivery, and quality customer services. It has recently launched an online platform that provides an easier and more convenient purchasing experience for our customers.

Modern Multimedia (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.

Since 2001, Modern Multimedia (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (MM) has been pioneering the development, design, and production of digital teaching and learning solutions. It has collaborated with major technology companies, publishing houses, cultural organisations, education institutes, as well as experts and scholars in mainland China and Hong Kong to develop quality, innovative digital content, and online learning platforms, and software, as well as hardware tools to meet the needs of various markets.

In the 1950s, Professor Wong Fuk-Luen was teaching Chinese History as the Head of History Department at Chung Chi College (now part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong) when he noticed the majority of textbooks in use were not tailored for Hong Kong’s local context. At the time, most education publications were either prewar materials from mainland China or imported versions from the British colonial network. He joined forces with a group of education professionals and advocates to establish Modern, a collective that has since aimed to research and produce learning materials that would equip Hong Kong students with relevant knowledge, skills, and values.

Hong Kong

Milestones

Modern

Early 20th century

1940s

Most textbooks in Hong Kong were imported from mainland China, United Kingdom, and British Malaya.

1956

The Hong Kong government recommended all primary and secondary levels to use locally published books.

1957
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1960

A group of education professionals and advocates established the Modern Educational Research Society (Modern).

1957

Primary School Grade 5 Core Elements for Teaching the Chinese Language

Modern was among the first publishers to make teacher-specific guides and manuals.

1958

Primary School Grade 2 Epistolary Textbook

尺牘 (Cantonese: cekduk, Putonghua: chidu) was a subject that taught students common formats and phrases in letter writing. The term refers to ancient writing tablets prior to the invention of paper. The subject was gradually subsumed into the Chinese language subject in the 1970s.

1959

Primary School Abacus Calculation Textbook

珠算 (Cantonese: zyusyun, Putonghua: zhusuan) is the knowledge and practice of using the abacus for arithmetic calculations. This was particularly important before the prevalence of electronic calculators.

Junior Secondary School History Textbook

1962

Primary School Grade 6 Nature Textbook (1959)

The three subjects Health Education, Society, and Nature (renamed to Science in 1984) replaced General Studies in the primary level.

Primary School Grade 2 Society Textbook (1960 )

Primary School Grade 1 Health Education Textbook (1963)

Kindergarten Mathematics Textbook

1968

Primary School English Textbook

Modern collaborated with Macmillian Publishers to create textbooks for the English subject. This would be the first of many collaborations with other overseas publishers.

Primary School Music Textbook

1970

We began publishing the Modern Educational Bulletin, which became a platform for sharing the industry’s latest learning and teaching news.

1972

Primary School Grade 6 Mathematics Textbook

1974

Chinese became an official language in Hong Kong, enjoying equal status with English.

1978

The policy for nine-year compulsory education was instated, more children could attend schools for free.

Secondary School Science Textbook

1981

Primary School Grade 5 Geography Textbook

1985

Putonghua was introduced as a primary school level subject.

Primary School Grade 5 Putonghua Textbook (1986)

1989

Secondary School Design and Technology Textbook

1991

Secondary School Chinese Language Textbook

1996

Health Education, Society, and Nature were integrated as General Studies in the primary level.

Primary School Grade 5 General Studies Textbook

1997

As electronic teaching resources became more prevalent, we offered IT training sessions for teachers at our Multimedia Research Teaching Lab.

1998

The education system shifted to a mother-tongue education approach. The key teaching language switched from English to Chinese for multiple subjects. Putonghua became a mandatory subject.

1998
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2000

The government further promoted information technology education in 1998, encouraging schools to start teaching relevant knowledge and skills at the primary school level in 2000.

Primary School Grade 4 Computer Awareness Textbook (2000)

2000

Modern Education Digital Media Ltd. was established to develop E-Textbooks, multimedia teaching resources and online learning materials. One of its key projects would be to organise a successful series of large-scale e-quiz tournaments for primary school students.

2000s

Modern organised industry tours to exchange knowledge with colleagues in mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. The organisations visited include People’s Education Press, Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Longteng Education, Kang Hsuan Educational Publishing, Hsin-Yi Publications, and Korea Education and Research Information Service.

2009

Free and compulsory education was extended to a twelve-year period to cover early secondary education.

2019

Life-wide learning was encouraged with public grants.