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Education

In July 2019, the Task Force on School-based Management Policy submitted its report putting forward 27 recommendations to improve the quality of school governance, strengthen the administration capabilities of schools in ways that would unleash the capacity for teachers and principals, and enhance the participation of major stakeholders in school governance. The government accepted all the recommendations and started rolling out measures implementing these recommendations from 2019-20, including the provision of additional resources to schools to strengthen their administrative support and reduce the administrative work of teachers and principals so that they could focus more on teaching and taking better care of students.

The School Development and Accountability Framework fosters sustained school development. and improvement through school self-evaluation, complemented by external school reviews.

Professional Development of Educators

Teachers

The Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals advises the bureau on policies and measures 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, organised by the bureau, recognises accomplished teachers and fosters a culture of excellence in the teaching profession.

The Hong Kong Teachers' Centre organises conferences and other events to promote the continuing professional development of teachers.

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

The government accepted and has been progressively implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on Professional Development of Teachers. Starting from 2019-20, the all-graduate teaching force policy has been implemented in public-sector schools. The government has also established a professional ladder for teachers, and enhanced the ranking arrangement of school management in public-sector schools in 2020-21. Commendation schemes at multiple levels to acknowledge teachers with outstanding performance will also be set up.

Principals

Professional development requirements are in place to help aspiring, newly appointed and serving principals enhance their leadership knowledge and address their development needs at different career stages. Since 2004-05, some 1,800 aspiring principals have attained the Certification for Principalship and about half of them have become principals.

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