ENG-2005 — Page 207

Education | 169

Principals' Professional Development

The Government has organised a wide range of professional development activities for serving and newly appointed principals, vice-principals and senior teachers aspiring to become principals to equip and support them in their work. It has also introduced a professional development framework to address principals' diverse needs after thorough consultation with the education sector.

All serving principals are required to undertake 50 hours of continuing professional development activities every year, adding up to a minimum of 150 hours. in a three-year cycle. Newly appointed principals who are in their first two years are provided with designated professional development programmes and a structured support programme. From the 2004-05 school year, people aspiring to become principals will need to attain the Certification of Principalship before they can be considered for appointment. A Principal Support Network was also set up in 2004 to facilitate professional sharing and learning among principals.

Hong Kong Teachers' Centre

The Hong Kong Teachers' Centre was set up in 1989 to promote professionalism and a sense of unity among teachers. Working either independently or in collaboration with other educational bodies or EMB sections, the centre organised or assisted in organising 605 professional or personal development activities for 65 000 participants to promote the curriculum reform, quality teaching and learning in 2005. It also takes various measures to enhance professional exchanges and experience sharing among teachers, including the organisation of an educational conference annually.

Council on Professional Conduct in Education

The Council on Professional Conduct in Education was set up in 1994 to enhance teachers' professionalism. With 25 elected members from schools and educational organisations and three members nominated by the Permanent Secretary of Education and Manpower, it advises the Permanent Secretary on measures to promote professional conduct in education. It also draws up operational criteria defining the conduct expected of an educator and advises, where necessary, on cases of disputes or alleged professional misconduct involving educators.

Student Finance

To ensure that no students are deprived of education for lack of financial means, the Student Financial Assistance Agency provides financial assistance to needy students. Subject to a means test, the assistance available takes various forms such as fee remissions, grants and/or low-interest loans for pre-primary to tertiary education. The agency also administers non-means tested schemes of assistance and privately funded scholarships awarded on the basis of academic merit.

Means-tested Financial Assistance

Kindergarten pupils receive assistance to pay tuition fees up to the weighted average of the fees charged by non-profit-making kindergartens or the actual fee, whichever is the less. In the 2004-05 school year, 55 137 pupils were granted fee