Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) Requirement
Starting from the 2023/24 school year, all newly-appointed teachers in public sector schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme schools and kindergartens joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme are required to pass the BLNST in order to be considered for appointment.
Please refer to the EDB Circular No. 13/2022 and Frequently Asked Questions for details.
Education Bureau Circular No. 13/2022 | |
Frequently Asked Questions |
BLNST
The EDB is conducting a total of five rounds of BLNST for teachers on 3 December 2022, 7 January 2023, 11 February 2023, 16 April 2023 and 18 June 2023 respectively. For the content and format of the BLNST organised by the EDB, the EDB draws reference to the arrangements of the BLNST conducted by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB). The written test is a bilingual paper (in both English and Chinese) assessing candidates' knowledge of the Basic Law (including its annexes, instruments, attachments and appendices) as well as the National Security Law. Persons who possess a pass result in the BLNST issued by the CSB will be deemed to have met the relevant requirement and are not required to take the BLNST organised by the EDB again.
Having regard to the different entry requirements for teaching posts in secondary and primary schools as well as kindergartens, the above-mentioned five rounds of tests will be arranged separately for degree holders and non-degree holders. Teachers who wish to take the test should plan ahead and submit an application on time. Details of the arrangements are as follows:
Test | Targets | Relevant information | Test dates/ months |
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Degree level | Degree-holding teachers in secondary and primary schools as well as kindergartens (including principals) |
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Non-degree level | Non-degree-holding teachers in secondary and primary schools as well as kindergartens |
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The first, second and third rounds of the BLNST were held on 3 December 2022, 7 January 2023 and 11 February 2023 respectively. The fourth and fifth rounds of the BLNST are scheduled for 16 April 2023 and 18 June 2023. The application and test arrangements for the fifth round of the BLNST will be announced in due course.
Teachers who have passed the BLNST (degree level) will not be required to take any BLNST at/ below an equivalent level again.
For those who have passed the BLNST (non-degree level) and subsequently attained a degree qualification, they will be required to take the BLNST (degree level) if they wish to apply for graduate teaching posts.
Information about the BLNST (degree level) (April 2023)
The application for the fourth round of the BLNST (degree level) was closed at 5:00 p.m. on 8 March 2023. Applicants who have submitted their applications will be notified of the application results and test details by e-mail on or before 4 April 2023. An SMS message will also be sent to applicants to remind them of the e-mail. Candidates who do not receive the e-mail by 4 April 2023 should contact the Teacher Professional Development Special Duty Team by phone at 2892 5709 or by e-mail to tpdsdt@edb.gov.hk.
Applicants are advised to refer to the “Notes for Applicants (degree level)” and “Frequently Asked Questions for Application (degree level)” for the fourth round of the BLNST (degree level).
Notes for Applicants (degree level) | |
Frequently Asked Questions for Application (degree level) |
Information about the BLNST (degree level) (February 2023)
The third round of the BLNST (degree level) was held on 11 February 2023. Candidates have been notified of their test results by post. Candidates who do not receive the result notifications should contact the Teacher Professional Development Special Duty Team by phone at 2892 5709 or by e-mail to tpdsdt@edb.gov.hk.
Information about the BLNST (non-degree level) (January 2023)
The second round of the BLNST (non-degree level) was held on 7 January 2023. Candidates have been notified of their test results by post. Candidates who do not receive the result notifications should contact the Teacher Professional Development Special Duty Team by phone at 2892 5709 or by e-mail to tpdsdt@edb.gov.hk.
Information about the BLNST (degree level) (December 2022)
The first round of the BLNST (degree level) was held on 3 December 2022. Candidates have been notified of their test results by post. Candidates who do not receive the result notifications should contact the Teacher Professional Development Special Duty Team by phone at 2892 5709 or by e-mail to tpdsdt@edb.gov.hk.