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Teachers unhappy with Law response to stress measures

Nora Tong

Teacher and principal representatives are dissatisfied with the Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower's response to teachers' suggestions for relieving their stress, but are divided on whether she should resign.

The suggestions were put forward to Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun at eight meetings around the city after thousands protested against education reforms late last month.

In a statement posted on the Education and Manpower Bureau's website after the final meeting this week, Mrs Law attributed teacher stress to four sources: society, education policies, school administration and personal reasons.

She said she would 'carefully analyse' suggestions on easing teacher stress.

Legislator Cheung Man-kwong, president of the Professional Teachers' Union, said Mrs Law was evading her and the bureau's responsibilities.

'There's no mention of the education reforms - the source of teacher stress. 'Education policies' is too vague,' he said.

In a meeting with Secretary for Education and Manpower Arthur Li Kwok-cheung this week, the union called for Mrs Law's removal. However, Tsoi Kai-chun, chairman of the Subsidised Primary Schools' Council, said she deserved a chance but 'concrete policies' should be put in place, and he urged the government to come up with 'some kind of action' before March 4, when the PTU would rally against the reforms for a second time.

While many principals wanted policies relieving the situation to be introduced promptly, he said the council was a partner of the EMB and would like to avoid direct confrontation. He did not discount the possibility of taking further action, though, such as calling on members to join the march.

Mrs Law said in the statement that the EMB would follow up teachers' opinion with relevant bodies, including the Curriculum Development Council, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, and the Working Group on Review of Secondary School Places Allocation and Medium of Instruction for Secondary Schools, and would respond as soon as possible.

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