While big religious groups object to incorporated management committees (IMCs), teachers and parents at schools that are run by such panels say they enjoy having their say.
At Tai Po Old Market Public School (Plover Cove), which was among the first to set up such a committee, in 2005, parent representatives Angela Li Ping-luen and Wong Yam-wah say they feel empowered.
'The school wanted to switch from an aided school to the Direct Subsidy Scheme in 2007, but it didn't go ahead after our objection,' Li said. 'A DSS school would exclude pupils from lower economic backgrounds from joining.'
Principal Lam Wai-ling says the administrative burden and time costs imposed by the committee are worth the trouble. 'Last year we had to spend nearly a year on consultation on the building of a swimming pool. We also need to produce more detailed financial reports than in the past. But the cost is worthwhile. In the past, we could only use parents as voluntary labour, now they are involved in decision-making.'
There is more flexibility in using financial resources, says Liu Ah-chuen, chairman of the Subsidised Secondary Schools Council and principal of Christian Alliance SW Chan Memorial College in Fanling.
'As an incentive, the government gives more freedom to schools on how to spend money if they set up the committees,' Liu said. 'You can use the money that is earmarked for buying furniture for other purposes, such as organising extra-curricular activities.' Geography teacher Chow Kam-ming has been sitting on the committee of Elegantia College for five years since its formation in 2005. 'Teachers were not a part of the board in the past,' Chow said. 'Now we can give views on the academic policy of the school.'