Question of principals

Everybody agrees that improving educational standards is a key to the future of Hong Kong. A vital element in achieving that aim is to ensure that the quality of teaching is as high as possible. This means making the most of experience, as well as ensuring that the education system is open to new ideas.

The court decision yesterday in favour of Lau Chi-fai, headmaster of the Sheng Kung Hui Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School who was chosen as a test case for 15 other SKH principals, should be seen in that context.

Nobody contests Mr Lau's qualities as a teacher: he was to have been compulsorily retired simply because of a section of the Code of Aid for Secondary Schools which the judge found to be unenforceable. That verdict will now allow dozens of other principals to continue their jobs in the new school year.

The fact that Mr Lau had the support of the Management Committee in continuing in his post was perhaps the most important factor in this case. It should certainly have outweighed any bureaucratic requirement relating to age.

Principals should certainly not be entitled to stay on regardless of their performance. But when they are doing well, it would be folly to dispense with their services, and the experience they have built up over the years. Apart from anything else, this would undermine morale in a service where the dedication of teachers is central to improving educational standards.

The verdict also underlines the role which Management Committees should play. They have their finger on the pulse of the operations of schools, and can best judge the performance of principals. Their opinion should be given due weight in such cases, as it clearly was by yesterday's judgment.