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Education

Professional Development of Educators

Teachers

The Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals advises the bureau on policies relating to the professional development of the teaching profession at different career stages and provides a platform for professional sharing, collaboration and networking.

The Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE), organised by the bureau, aims to recognise accomplished teachers and foster a culture of excellence in the teaching profession. In 2015-16, 41 teachers received CEATE awards or certificates of merit.

The Hong Kong Teachers' Centre organises conferences, seminars, workshops and experience- sharing sessions to promote continuing professional development of teachers. It also arranges physical and mental health activities to help teachers maintain work-life balance.

The Council on Professional Conduct in Education, a non-statutory body, advises the government on measures to promote professional conduct in education and on alleged misconduct cases involving educators that are lodged with the council.

Principals

Professional development requirements are in place to help aspiring, newly appointed and serving principals enhance their leadership knowledge and address their developmental needs at different career stages. Some 1,400 aspiring principals have attained the Certification for Principalship and about half of them have become principals.

School-based Support Services

School-based support services aim to foster leadership at schools, in particular at the middle managers' level, disseminate informed practices more widely to improve learning, teaching and assessment strategies in the classroom, and support professional learning among teachers. In 2015-16, the bureau provided school-based support services, including those financed by the Education Development Fund, to 300 secondary schools, 392 primary schools, 31 special schools, and 181 kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres.

Regional Education Offices also offer school-based support services to schools in response to the needs of students, teachers, schools and other stakeholders.

Community Participation in Education

Home-School Cooperation

The Committee on Home-School Cooperation encourages the establishment of Parent-Teacher Associations. As at 2016, about 1,400 associations had been established. The bureau funded about 3,300 school-based and district-based home-school cooperation activities in 2015-16.

Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education

The committee advises the government on civic education, collaborates with the government and other parties in arranging civic education activities, and sponsors community organisations to carry out projects to promote civic education outside school. Its tasks include encouraging a positive attitude towards life, fostering family harmony to cultivate an integrated and

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