The Task Force on Professional Development of Teachers submitted its report to the Education Bureau (EDB) today (March 26).
The Task Force has reviewed the current state of play regarding teachers' professional development. After extensive consultation with stakeholders, an in-depth study and much deliberation over the past year or so, the Task Force has made a total of 18 recommendations, which include the establishment of a Professional Ladder for Teachers to be further steered by the Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals (COTAP), implementation of the "all-graduate teaching force" policy, enhancement of the manpower arrangements for senior teachers and vice-principals, enhancement of the ranking arrangements of vice-principals and principals of primary schools and principals of secondary schools, and establishment of commendation schemes at multiple levels to acknowledge teachers with outstanding performance. Of them, the Government, having regard to the views of the Task Force, has earlier undertaken to implement the all-graduate teaching force policy in public sector primary and secondary schools in one go in the 2019/20 school year.
The Chairman of the Task Force, Dr Carrie Willis said, "The Task Force envisages that establishing the Professional Ladder for Teachers in Hong Kong will deepen the positive impact of the policies on teachers' professional development that have been implemented so far, open up new directions for promoting the professional growth and development of teachers, enhance public recognition of the teaching profession and raise its professional status."
She added that the Task Force recommended a series of multi-faceted strategies aimed at supporting the establishment of the Professional Ladder for Teachers, which she believed would vigorously steer those in the teaching profession towards continuously renewing their professional knowledge and skills, upholding their professional values and conduct and scaling up their professional capacity and management effectiveness, and ultimately provide students with a quality education to better prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
Having received the report, the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung said, "Since it was set up in November 2017, the Task Force has actively engaged different stakeholders in thoroughly reviewing the professional development of teachers in Hong Kong. The report has far-reaching influence on the promotion of professional development of our teachers and enhancement of their professionalism and professional status. I deeply thank the Chairman, Dr Carrie Willis, and all the members of the Task Force, for their hard work and contribution to the review. The Education Bureau will study the report carefully and put the feasible recommendations into practice."
The full review report can be viewed on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/teacher/report-tftpd/index.html).
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