I write in response to Education Commission chairwoman Rosanna Wong Yick-ming's comments in the article headlined 'Middle-class jobless must qualify if they want to teach' (Sunday Morning Post, October 14) on the topic of unemployed professionals becoming teachers. I am a founding partner of a legal firm established 20 years ago and I can tell you there are really such people (professionals) who want to teach as a profession.
I must congratulate Secretary of Education and Manpower Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun on her insight on the issue. There are indeed quite a number of professionals closely related to the property market - like lawyers, architects and surveyors - whose professions are hard hit by the downturn in the property market.
I cannot see why these people, provided they are willing and have the commitment to teach, cannot be an asset to the educational workforce.
If a certificate or diploma in education is required, I think allowance should be made for them to study for the required qualifications while at work. We need a new breed of staff, conscientious and full of practical experience to supplement, not replace, the teaching staff we now have at schools.
I also think the Government must stress fairness in employing teachers. School authorities should be given the discretion to choose teachers suitable for the post, irrespective of whether they have the recognised qualifications.
TANG KWOK-WING