Code For The Education Profession OF Hong Kong
Code For The Education Profession OF Hong Kong
OF
HONG KONG
(Extracted Edition)
October 1995
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CHAPTER 1 : BACKGROUND AND THE FORMULATION
PROCESS OF THE CODE
1.1 THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE’S ESTABLISHMENT
AND THE CODE’S FORMULATION
1.1.2 The Education Commission Report No. 1 (October 1984) did not support
the setting up of a Hong Kong Teaching Service. Instead, it recommended
the publication of a “code of practice” for the teaching profession to foster
a sense of professionalism.
1.1.4 The Committee worked for 3 years from June 1987 and, after local
consultations, the Code was renamed “Code for the Education Profession
of Hong Kong” (hereafter referred to as “the Code”). This decision was
promulgated in October 1990. (every practising teacher at the time was
given a copy of the Code)
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1.1.6 The Committee believed that concurrent with the formulation of the Code,
suggestions as to how the Code should be implemented must be made. It
also proposed the establishment of a “General Teaching Council” which
would function as a professional body with responsibilities to implement
the Code and maintain professional discipline.
1.1.8 In early 1992, the Preparatory Committee and the Working Party
submitted to the Education Commission a joint proposal, setting out a
framework for developing a GTC.
1.2.2 It has been five years since the Code’s promulgation. It is believed that
many newcomers to the teaching profession have not had the chance to
read through the Code. This Code has been hitherto the sole set of criteria
of Professional Conduct for educators and is thus of great importance to
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each and every one of them. In view of this, the Council has decided to
reprint the full text of the Code’s Chapters 2 and 3(Note 4) for all
practising teachers in service in the hope that this would promote
professional conduct within the profession.
(1) The Commission recommended “the fostering of a sense of
professionalism by encouraging teachers, principals, school
management and sponsors to co-operate, through the co-ordination of
the Education Department, in the writing of a code of practice for the
teaching profession. This code would prescribe ethical standards of
conduct for teachers in the execution of their professional duties and
all registered and permitted teachers would be expected to subscribe
to it.”
(2) In October 1986 the Education Department invited representatives
from 63 educational organizations to a meeting to discuss the
formation of a Preparatory Committee and to elect representatives to
it. Finally these constituent groups elected a total of 25
representatives to form the Preparatory Committee. The first
meeting was held in June 1987.
(3) The Council has a membership of 28, 14 of whom come from
teachers’ direct elections, 11 were elected among educational
organizations and the remaining 3 appointed by the Director of
Education (one being his representative and the two others from
non-education sectors).
(4) The “Code of the Education Profession of Hong Kong” (Oct. 1990)
compiled by the Preparatory Committee, Professional Code for
Educational Workers contains four chapters : Chapter 1 being
Preamble, Chapter 2 the Code, Chapter 3 Rights of the Education
Profession and Chapter 4 Recommendations for Implementation.
(Remarks: On 1 January 2003, the Education Department was subsumed under the
Education and Manpower Bureau. The Education and Manpower was
then re-organised as the Education Bureau on 1 July 2007.)
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CHAPTER 2 : THE CODE
2.1 COMMITMENT OF THE PROFESSION
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the association with any party or vested interests that may benefit
from such statements.
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18. Shall foster among students a sense of democracy and educate them
to respect others.
19. Shall encourage students to respect other members of the profession
and to this end shall avoid unprofessional remarks about professional
colleagues.
20. Shall ensure that reports on students are based on factual and
objective information.
21. Shall not divulge information about students unless disclosure serves
a compelling professional purpose or is required by law.
22. Shall not take advantage of his/her professional relationships with
students for private gain.
23. Shall not entrust his/her professional responsibilities to any person
who is not a member of the profession. However, when necessary
he/she shall seek assistance from those in other professions.
24. Shall report to the authorities concerned any case of child abuse
he/she observes during the course of professional or official duties.
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9. Shall promote harmonious relations and avoid misunderstanding
between colleagues; be objective and constructive when giving
advice or guidance in a professional capacity.
10. Shall, upon request, inform a colleague of the contents of a report
when submitting a report on his/her.
11. Shall adhere to the principles of justice and truth, when issuing a
reference or testimonial for a colleague.
12. Shall not undermine students’ confidence in and/or respect for other
colleagues.
13. Shall never maliciously damage the professional reputation or career
prospects of colleagues.
14. Shall not intentionally embarrass or insult his/her colleagues and,
when criticising colleagues, shall take care to avoid comments
damaging to their self-respect.
15. Shall observe the principles of fundamental justice in dealing with
complaints against colleagues. Anonymous complaints should be
ignored.
16. Shall not make unfavourable criticism of the professional behaviour
of a colleague unless the colleague concerned has been previously
informed.
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3. Shall exchange with parents information and experience which will
assist in the growth and development of the students.
4. Shall respect reasonable parental requests with regard to their
children’s educational needs.
5. Shall truthfully present parents with the facts concerning the
educational development and conduct of their children.
6. Shall respect the uniqueness and characteristics of each student’s
family background and treat in confidence any information regarding
private family matters.
7. Shall assist parents to protect the physical and academic rights of
their children.
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CHAPTER 3 : RIGHTS
3.1 GENERAL RIGHTS
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2. To be continuously employed after entering the profession unless
there is just cause for dismissal or non-renewal established through
fair proceedings.
3. To be fully informed, in writing, of details of conditions and
regulations affecting his/her employment before signing his/her
contract.
4. To work in an environment in which his/her physical and mental
health, security, and property are adequately protected.
5. To be informed of evaluation procedures affecting himself/herself
and to express his/her views.
6. To request to be truthfully informed of his/her strengths and
weaknesses as expressed in his/her appraisal report and to make an
appeal as he/she deems necessary.
7. To be employed and enjoy conditions of service, promotion
prospects and further employment regardless of sex, race, colour,
nationality, religious or political belief.
8. To be promptly given a written explanation in situations where any
actions which might affect his/her employment.
9. To be treated fairly regarding complaints against him/her and to have
access to proper procedures including arbitration in resolving
disputes.
10. To join trade unions and to engage in activities designed to safeguard
the rights of employees.
11. To raise objections to unreasonable clauses in contracts through a
variety of proper channels.
12. To receive from his/her present employer a letter of release
containing accurate information when he/she applies for other posts.
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