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constantly required to cope with rising expectations and sophistication. We recommend, therefore, that institutions of tertiary education be requested to mount courses and seminars on school management and administration.
As
54.
The closure of a school, albeit a necessary step in certain circumstances, is a drastic measure. The legal
authority for such an action to be taken rests at present with one individual person, the Director of Education.
in practice an important act such as the closing of a school
is seldom, if ever, the decision of one person, we consider it unfair and inappropriate to place the responsibility
solely on the Director of Education. We therefore recommend
that the Education Ordinance be amended to empower the Director of Education only to suspend a school for a period
of time. Thereafter, if it is deemed essential that the
school be closed, such an authority should rest with the
Governor-in-Council.
B.
55.
Communications
There is a need for the Education Department to
review and improve upon existing channels of communication
(a) between teaching staff and school management;
(b) between teaching staff and the Education
Department; and
(c) between heads of schools and the Department.
In particular, we feel that there should be improved channels
for teachers' views to be communicated to school management
committees. We are aware that the Department is currently
/consulting