Board Member Training

Creative Education - Board Member Training Topics and Categories

S. Teacher Professional Development (Primary and Secondary Schools)

Topic: S1 Hong Kong under "One Country, Two Systems"

Lecture Speaker: Principal Yip Kam-Yuen
Category: Legal Knowledge, Hong Kong National Security Law
Introduction: This unit aims to help teachers accurately understand the concepts of the Constitution, Basic Law, rule of law, and human rights, and to implement national security education through the "Citizenship and Social Development" subject.
Content Outline:
1. The constitutional relationship between the nation and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
2. The legal basis of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law
3. Overview of the Basic Law and the rights and obligations of Hong Kong residents
4. The concept, interpretation, and significance of the spirit of the rule of law
5. Nationality, National Flag and National Anthem Law, Hong Kong National Security Law

Topic: S2 "Everything for the Students" Educational Mission

Lecture Speaker: Dr. Hui Wai-Tin
Category: Educational Mission, Development Planning
Introduction: In this era of change in school education, teachers should re-examine their original aspirations, understand the educational mission of schools and the professional growth of teachers, and then develop professional development plans that align with the new era of education.
Content Outline:
1. My reason for being a teacher - Don't forget your original intention
2. The educational mission of the school
3. The alignment of teacher professional development with the school's educational mission

Topic: S3 Using DISC for Self-Understanding and Leadership Development Planning

Lecture Speaker: Dr. Hui Wai-Tin, Senior DISC Consultant (Education Sector)
Category: Human Resources Development
Introduction: DISC is a behavioral analysis tool used by the Education Bureau in the training of prospective principals in Hong Kong's primary and secondary schools. Many school leadership training course participants have undergone DISC work style analysis.
Content Outline:
1. The history of DISC and its use in Hong Kong schools
2. The behavioral styles and interactions of D, I, S, and C
3. Using DISC for leadership development planning

(Based on the Education Bureau's Suggested "School Board Learning Scope")

A. School-Based Management

Topic: A1 Opportunities and Challenges in School Planning, Management, and Execution

Lecture Speaker: Principal Lam Yat-Fung
Category:

The spirit, governance and support of school-based management.

School Human Resource Management - Teacher professionalism and rights

School Development and Policy - Crisis management, internal conflicts

Introduction: In recent year, political controversies in Hong Kong have led to varying levels of societal division, which has also affected schools. Some schools face external scrutiny regarding teachers' professional ethics, which is concerning. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic on early 2020 posed servere challenges, including school closures and delayed exams. Schools must learn to manage health protocols and utilize technology to address issues like "continuing learning during closures." This highlights the need for effective administrative preparation for future challenges.
Content Outline:

The spirit and governance model of school-based management
Concepts of school planning, management, and execution
Understanding of teachers professionalism and rights
Handling emergencies such as crises, internal conflicts, and media inquiries

Topic: A2 "Everything for the Students" Educational Aspirations and Mission

Lecture Speaker: Dr. Hui Wai-Tin
Category: School-Based Management — The role, core competencies, and ethical standards of board members
Introduction: As board members responsible for educational tasks, it is essential to understand the role of school education in society and the responsibilities of academic organizations and boards in adapting to changes in leadership practices.
Content Outline:

The role of school education in society
The social roles of educational organizations and boards
Concepts and practices of school leadership — Transformational leadership, ethical leadership
Aspirations and missions of education in the new era

Topic: A3 School-Based Management and Legal Foundations

Lecture Speakers: Principal Yip Kam-Yuen, Principal Hui Chung-Chung
Category: School-Based Management — Functions of board members, legal knowledge
Introduction: Daily school operations may involve various legal issues, such as the Education Ordinance, Employment Ordinance, and insurance-related laws. Therefore, board members and school leaders need to understand relevant legal knowledge to enhance awareness of legal issues and reduce potential liabilities.
Content Outline:

Legal foundations: Overview of Hong Kong's legal system and legal thinking
Educational regulations: Employment Ordinance, Education Ordinance, Education Regulations, funding-related laws, and other relevant laws
School-based management: Educational organizations and incorporated management committees, employment contracts, staff management, risk management, and insurance
Legal responsibilities of schools: Roles and functions of incorporated management committees, employer liabilities, occupant liabilities, and transferred liabilities.
Selected topics: Negligence, defamation, anti-discrimination laws, Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, handling complaints, and mediating disputes

B. School Human Resources and Financial Management

Topic: B1 Staff Performance Appraisal, Training, and Development

Lecture Speaker: Principal Fung Ka-Ching
Category: School Human Resources Management — Staff performance appraisal, training, and development
Introduction: Teacher performance and professional growth are key to continuous improvement in schools. Board members need to understand how to assess teacher performance, arrange training, and support professional development, aiding in better school quality.
Content Outline:
1. Methods and implementation strategies for staff performance appraisal
2. Goals and implementation strategies for teacher training
3. Human resources and school development

Topic: B2 Handling Employee Complaints

Lecture Speaker: Principal Fung Ka-Ching
Category: School Human Resources Management — Handling employee complaints
Introduction: Research indicates that educators in Hong Kong faces significant pressure from complaints. Regardless of the subject of complaints, school leadership must manage them carefully, ensuring fairness and prioritizing students’ interests. Understanding the complaint handling mechanism helps board members engage effectively.
Content Outline:

Complaint handling mechanisms
Appeals and review systems.
Reducing complaints by optimizing school culture, systems, and operations

Topic: B3 Employee Resignation, Dismissal, Retirement, and Extension of Service

Lecture Speaker: Principal Fung Ka-Ching
Category: School Human Resources Management — Employee resignation, dismissal, retirement, and extension of service
Introduction: Teachers and staff are critical assets to schools, contributing significantly to improvement and excellence. Conversely, underperforming employees may negatively impact school performance and morale. Thus, careful handling of these matters is essential.
Content Outline:

Impact of employment laws on school staff
Regulations of the Education Ordinance and funding regulations
Provisions regarding retirement and extension of service for teachers, staff, and workers

Topic: B4 Analysis of Human Resources and Financial Case Studies

Lecture Speaker: Principal Lam Yat-Fung
Category: School Human Resources Management — School financial management
Introduction: Discussing and analyzing case studies reinforces learning, helping to avoid future mistakes and improve management efficiency.
Content Outline:
1. Teacher appointments, role adjustments, promotions, and acting positions
2. Resignation, dismissal, retirement, and extension of the service of staff
3. School income
4. Business activities
5. Procurement of materials and services

Topic: B5 New Trends in Resource Management

Lecture Speaker: Principal Lam Yat-Fung
Category:

School Human Resources Management — Role adjustments, promotions, succession, training, and development

School Financial Management — Financial utilization and monitoring

Introduction: In recent years, the government has invested a lot of resources in schools, including full-time degree programs, adding a vice-principal of a secondary school, special learning needs support teachers, administrative directors, etc. In terms of financial resources, special learning needs allowances, non-Chinese speaking student allowances, “medical, education, and social program”, all-round learning allowances, and 2 million special fun applications from the Quality Education Fund are added. With the increase of human and financial resources, how schools can plan and manage well to maximize the benefits for students is a very important issue.
Content Outline:
1. Strategies for hiring, adjustments, and promotions.
2. Teacher training and development strategies
3. Financial planning, management, and monitoring

Topic: B6 Teacher Professional Ethics and Discipline

Lecture Speaker: Principal Hui Chung-Chung
Category: School Human Resources Management — Employee ethics and discipline
Introduction: Teachers play a crucial role in student learning and growth. Schools must ensure that teachers maintain professionalism and discipline to effectively promote teaching and support student development.
Content Outline:

Introduction to the main content of the Professional Ethics Council and the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers
Overview of funding regulations related to teacher ethics and discipline.
Importance of ensuring teacher professionalism and discipline
Case analysis to help board members understand issues related to teacher ethics and discipline.

Topic: B7 Utilizing Data Analysis to Promote School Collaboration and Build a Learning Organization

Lecture Speaker: Principal Ng Yau-Kwong
Category: School Human Resources Management — Flexible resource utilization and effective data analysis to drive school development
Introduction: This session discusses how schools can build an intranet for staff communication and utilize data analysis to measure teaching effectiveness, promoting professional exchange and self-evaluation.
Content Outline:
1. Building a school-based communication platform (intranet) for staff
2. Effective data analysis to enhance teaching effectiveness and professional exchange.
3. Utilizing financial and human resources, introducing appropriate external resources, and fostering future leadership teams
4. Conducting staff willingness surveys to optimize work allocation and boost morale
5. Developing school strengths based on situational context, establishing a brand, and fostering school pride.

Topic: B8 Effective Use of Human Resources and School Financial Management — The Role of Board Members

Lecture Speaker: Principal Ng Yau-Kwong
Category: School Human Resources Management — Human resources and financial management
Introduction: School resources can be divided into financial and human resources. This session introduces the role of board members in promoting effective use of these resources and establishing sound reporting and monitoring systems.
Content Outline:
1. Overview of the two types of school resources: financial and human
2. Role of board members in promoting effective resource utilization
3. Role of board members in school personnel management
4. How to effectively utilize resources to promote staff and student development
5. Strategies for ensuring effective financial management.
6. Case analysis on integrity management in the procurement process
7. Building a teaching team that effectively utilizes resources.

C. School Development and Policy

Topic: C1 External Evaluation and School Development

Lecture Speaker: Principal Hui Chung-Chung
Category: School Development and Policy — School Development Plans
Introduction: This session aims to help board members, school leaders, and teachers understand the origins of external evaluations, the relationship between external evaluations and school development, how external evaluations operate, and key considerations during the evaluation period to develop effective school development plans.
Content Outline:
1. The origins of school development and accountability, start from the Education Commission Report No. 7.
2. The framework of school development and accountability in Hong Kong includes management and organization, teaching and learning, school ethos, student support, and student performance.
3. Introduction to how external evaluations operate, including role-playing to help participants understand interactions with external evaluators.
4. Through scenario analysis, explore how schools can use external evaluations to drive development and what to pay attention to in the process.

Topic: C2 Latest Developments in Secondary Education: Learning to Learn and Leaving No One Behind

Lecture Speaker: Principal Ng Yau-Kwong
Category: School Development and Policy — School Development Plans, School Policies, Curriculum Policies
Introduction: Recent educational reforms, coupled with rapid developments in information technology and society, have led to a new normal in secondary education. This session will provide board members, school leaders, and teachers with insights into the latest developments and focuses in secondary education, enabling strategic direction for teaching and learning, optimizing resource use, and promoting excellence in teaching teams to equip students for future challenges and create diverse pathways for students of different abilities.
Content Outline:
1. Latest developments in secondary curricula
2. New normal in secondary teaching and learning
3. Effective financial management to promote school development.
4. Cultivating students to ensure no one is left behind.

Topic: C3 The Concept and Practice of National (Security) Education

Lecture Speaker: Dr. Hui Wai-Tin
Category: School Development and Policy — School Development Plans, School Policies, Curriculum Policies
Introduction: Following the implementation of the National Anthem Law, National Flag and Emblem Law, and National Security Law, some argue that Hong Kong has entered a "second return." The political and social environment in Hong Kong significantly impacts school education, and national education will correspondingly increase. Schools have a responsibility to equip students for the future, and board members, school leaders, and teachers should understand the educational policy landscape and development to create strategically sound school development plans.
Content Outline:
1. Review of the development of "One Country, Two Systems"
2. Concepts of national (security) education
3. The relationship between the National Anthem Law, the National Flag and Emblem Law, the National Security Law, and national education
4. The educational foundations of national education: starting from "emotion."
5. The practice of national (security) education

Speaker Introductions

Principal Fung Ka-Ching
Retired Principal of SKH Chai Wan St. Michael's Primary School, served as principal for 23 years. Former Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Subsidized Primary Schools Council, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Subsidized Primary School Principals' Association, member of the Quality Education Fund Steering Committee, and external evaluator. Currently a part-time lecturer at a university, head of the prospective principal course, and head of the middle leadership training course for primary schools.

Principal Ng Yau-Kwong
Retired Principal of The Hong Kong Taoist Association Ching Chung Secondary School. Former member of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, Chairman of the Human Resources Committee, Chairman of the Curriculum Development Council's Arts Education Committee, a member of the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, a speaker for the Education Bureau's Training Courses for School Managers, and executive committee member of the Association of Hong Kong Chinese Middle School Association. Currently serves as a board member at Ching Chung Hau Po Yuen Primary School, member of the Education Bureau's Appeal Committee, speaker for the New Principals Course, action research mentor, new principal mentor, speaker for the Chief Degree Course, Senior Degree Course, and middle leadership training course.

Principal Hui Chung-Chung
Supervisor of the Aberdeen Kai-Fong Wel Assn Cont Edu Sch, board member of Yuk Yin School, part-time lecturer for prospective principal courses, and professional needs analyst. Former Principal of Queen's College Old Boys' Association Secondary School, external evaluator, part-time lecturer at a university, instructor for the course on "Legal Issues Related to School Management," new principal mentor, member of the Examinations Authority, and member of the Education Appeals Committee.

Principal Lam Yat-Fung
School Affairs Consultant at Lions Clubs International Tseung Chui King College, previously served as Principal for 22 years, Chairman of the Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council, member of the Examinations and Assessment Authority, Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee, member of the Education Commission, member of the Quality Education Fund Assessment Committee, Chairman of the Tsuen Kwai Tsing Secondary School Principals' Association, course instructor for board member training, prospective principal course instructor, action research mentor for prospective principals, new principal mentor, Chief Degree Course instructor, Senior Degree Course instructor, external evaluator, and Chairman of the Management Committee and Investment Group of the Mandatory Provident Fund. Currently a member of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health of the Food and Health Bureau, the Energy Advisory Committee of the Environment Bureau, and the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies of the Water Supplies Department.

Principal Yip Kam-Yuen
Currently an education consultant at the Education Department of Hong Kong Baptist University, primarily involved in the "School Leadership Training" program. Former Principal of Catholic Diocesan Secondary Schools for 18 years, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools, Chairman of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocesan Schools Council, Chairman of the Southern District Joint Schools Conference, Chairman of the School Achievement Movement, and member of various Education Bureau advisory committees. Currently a board member of five subsidized secondary schools’ incorporated management committees, holding a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Master of Laws (LLM), with rich knowledge of school management and legal issues. Also involved in the "New Principal Training" and "Principal Legal Course" commissioned by the Education Bureau, and has led discussions on "School-Based Management and Legal Foundations" for board members/principals, as well as teacher professional development training/workshops.

Dr. Hui Wai-Tin
Director of the Gratia School of Professional Studies (GSPS),

Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Association for Education Leadership.

Former Chief Lecturer at Hong Kong Baptist University and Visiting Chief Lecturer at The Education University of Hong Kong.

With over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience in schools, currently responsible for coordinating school leadership development initiatives.

Research and focus areas include educational policy, educational leadership, and national security education.