TNAG-0990-FCO40-1209-Allegations-of-bribery-and-corruption-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 156

G.S. 166

XCCI(79,CONFIDENTIAL #

(ii)

Page

the setting up in each aided school of a Staff- Management Consultative Committee consisting of managers, teacher representatives and the heads; or

(iii) any alternative procedures for staff-management

consultation considered to be acceptable to the Director of Education.

20

A draft circular which sets out these consultative arrangements in general terms with guidelines for staff-management consultation has been endorsed by the Board of Education for issue to aided schools.

Parent-teacher Associations

21

It has always been the policy of the Director of Education to encourage the establishment of Parent-teacher Associations. Greater efforts will nevertheless be made to promote the growth of Parent-teacher A ssociations and to encourage parents to participate in their children's education. However, the Director of Education advises that this can only be a long-term objective and actual progress will be uneven as between different areas and associations.

Public relations

22

It is proposed to make a comprehensive announcement of the various steps which have been taken or which have been proposed in order to implement the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry. There has not recently been any significant public interest in the issues raised by the Committee's final report nor any pressure for implementation but the announcement may be expected to revive both public and press interest. The measures outlined in this paper are likely to be welcomed in general but there may be criticism from educational pressure groups at what they will see as the slow rate of progress in respect of some recommendations. In particular, there may be queries as to why aided schools cannot yet be included in the schedule of Public Bodies and the reasons for this will need careful explanation. There may be adverse comment too on the lcck of positive proposals for the strengthening of expertise in the administration of schools among Education Department staff.

Conclusion

23

Honourable Members are asked to note the measures which have been taken in response to the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry into the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee School.

(The Secretary for Social Services (Mr E. P. HO) and the Director

of Education (Mr K. W. J. TOPLEY) will attend before the Council for the consideration of this item).

18th June 1979

(CR 13/2 CONFIDENTIAL

楷 OCIL CHAMBER