Hong Kong Education Bureau oversteps its authority to settle scores, at least 10 teachers accused of professional misconduct without justification - Part 2 of 2
Chong Yiu-Kwong, a lawyer and the vice-president of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, pointed out that teacher registration is issued by the Education Bureau to teachers on an individual basis. Should a problem arise, the Bureau should deal with the teacher in question directly. He found it inappropriate and unfair that schools had to carry out investigations and described the Education Bureau’s handling of complaints as “outrageous”. He indicated that cancelling a teacher’s registration was “a big deal” for teachers and that issues pertaining to it deserved a proper hearing, not just in writing. He continued to say that the teachers implicated had the right to know the complainant’s identity. Withholding it violated the principles of natural justice and kept the teachers from knowing if the relevant incriminating data was obtained through illegal means like hacking.
Chong explained that if a teacher’s registration is cancelled, the aforementioned injustices could be grounds for challenging Education Bureau’s future decisions; under the Education Ordinance, teachers could appeal to the Chief Executive and Executive Council and any further disagreements could undergo judicial review.
In a newspaper article, Winnie Yu - an honorary professional consultant of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong - warned that Education Bureau had been investigating complaints of teachers criticising the police online since June. In some cases, the offending information was never divulged to the teachers, leaving them no opportunity to defend themselves. Yu also pointed out that most of the proof came from screenshots of teachers’ personal social media accounts, which was a violation of privacy. This meant that Education Bureau was an “accomplice” in using illegally obtained evidence to accuse teachers of professional misconduct.
Yu stated that the Education Ordinance did not authorize Education Bureau to use verbal warnings, condemnations or punishments against teachers accused of misconduct. Minor cases that do not warrant the cancellation of registration should be terminated. To do otherwise would “overstep its authority”.
A spokesperson for the Education Bureau responded that the implicated teachers had ample opportunity to explain themselves to their schools. They also stated that schools were responsible for reporting to Education Bureau, which would then review and determine the validity of a case. If a case was proved to be convincing, the Bureau would inform the teacher involved and invite them to write a statement. The option of requesting a meeting would be open as necessary. The spokesperson claimed that the Bureau has never ruled out the possibility of speaking directly with the teachers involved.
The spokesperson also denied that coercing, warning and condemning teachers should be misconstrued as “overstepping authority”. Rather, such actions were the hallmarks of responsibility for all teachers, schools, students and the entire education system.
Source: Apple Daily (17-Dec)
https://s.nextmedia.com/realtime/a.php?i=20191217&s=6996647&a=60384356
#EducationBureau #Teacher #FreedomOfSpeech #PoliceState
Chong Yiu-Kwong, a lawyer and the vice-president of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, pointed out that teacher registration is issued by the Education Bureau to teachers on an individual basis. Should a problem arise, the Bureau should deal with the teacher in question directly. He found it inappropriate and unfair that schools had to carry out investigations and described the Education Bureau’s handling of complaints as “outrageous”. He indicated that cancelling a teacher’s registration was “a big deal” for teachers and that issues pertaining to it deserved a proper hearing, not just in writing. He continued to say that the teachers implicated had the right to know the complainant’s identity. Withholding it violated the principles of natural justice and kept the teachers from knowing if the relevant incriminating data was obtained through illegal means like hacking.
Chong explained that if a teacher’s registration is cancelled, the aforementioned injustices could be grounds for challenging Education Bureau’s future decisions; under the Education Ordinance, teachers could appeal to the Chief Executive and Executive Council and any further disagreements could undergo judicial review.
In a newspaper article, Winnie Yu - an honorary professional consultant of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong - warned that Education Bureau had been investigating complaints of teachers criticising the police online since June. In some cases, the offending information was never divulged to the teachers, leaving them no opportunity to defend themselves. Yu also pointed out that most of the proof came from screenshots of teachers’ personal social media accounts, which was a violation of privacy. This meant that Education Bureau was an “accomplice” in using illegally obtained evidence to accuse teachers of professional misconduct.
Yu stated that the Education Ordinance did not authorize Education Bureau to use verbal warnings, condemnations or punishments against teachers accused of misconduct. Minor cases that do not warrant the cancellation of registration should be terminated. To do otherwise would “overstep its authority”.
A spokesperson for the Education Bureau responded that the implicated teachers had ample opportunity to explain themselves to their schools. They also stated that schools were responsible for reporting to Education Bureau, which would then review and determine the validity of a case. If a case was proved to be convincing, the Bureau would inform the teacher involved and invite them to write a statement. The option of requesting a meeting would be open as necessary. The spokesperson claimed that the Bureau has never ruled out the possibility of speaking directly with the teachers involved.
The spokesperson also denied that coercing, warning and condemning teachers should be misconstrued as “overstepping authority”. Rather, such actions were the hallmarks of responsibility for all teachers, schools, students and the entire education system.
Source: Apple Daily (17-Dec)
https://s.nextmedia.com/realtime/a.php?i=20191217&s=6996647&a=60384356
#EducationBureau #Teacher #FreedomOfSpeech #PoliceState
Secretary for #Education Claimed Right to Dismiss Principals for Supporting Teachers' Behaviour; Legislator Criticized as "White Terror"
In an interview with China’s “Shanghai Observer”, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Education, was asked what possible actions would the Bureau take if a school principal is reluctant to investigate into the conduct of a school teacher, or the principal is in fact supportive of the teachers' behaviour. Yeung responded that should the principal is not up to the requirement of the position, therefore the Bureau has the right to dismiss the principal in this regard.
Vice President of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’s Association, Legislator Ip Kin-yuen rebuked that Yeung had put unnecessary pressure on school, forcing school principals to execute political tasks and follow the government’s political stance. Yeung’s comment would incite white terror and could lead to incrimination of teacher by their behavior.
Source: NOW news
#whiteterror #EducationBureau
In an interview with China’s “Shanghai Observer”, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Education, was asked what possible actions would the Bureau take if a school principal is reluctant to investigate into the conduct of a school teacher, or the principal is in fact supportive of the teachers' behaviour. Yeung responded that should the principal is not up to the requirement of the position, therefore the Bureau has the right to dismiss the principal in this regard.
Vice President of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’s Association, Legislator Ip Kin-yuen rebuked that Yeung had put unnecessary pressure on school, forcing school principals to execute political tasks and follow the government’s political stance. Yeung’s comment would incite white terror and could lead to incrimination of teacher by their behavior.
Source: NOW news
#whiteterror #EducationBureau