Hong Kong could extend compulsory exam on Basic Law to teachers in subsidised kindergartens and direct subsidy scheme schools

Hong Kong authorities are considering extending a mandatory exam on the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, to cover new teachers who join schools under the direct subsidy scheme (DSS) and subsidised kindergartens, as well as educators on temporary contracts.

The education minister revealed the possible move in a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday, as he announced the results of the first round of Basic Law tests taken by new teachers who hoped to join the city’s more than 900 government-subsidised schools. Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said 70 per cent of the candidates passed the multiple-choice question exam held in January.

Those who failed were not permitted to take up jobs at the schools and must wait to try again when authorities launched a new round of tests next year at the earliest, he said.

“The requirement was announced in November last year. For teachers who are looking to change jobs, they already have had ample time to make arrangements,” Yeung said.

“[Passing the test] is a basic requirement. We cannot just provide an exemption for teachers who [did not prepare] to switch jobs. If that’s the case, the teacher can just stay in his or her school for another year and take the test next year.”

Yeung was responding to education sector lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung, who relayed concerns from principals’ that if extra tests were not arranged, schools could face hiring difficulties in the coming months.

The exam requirement, announced by leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, is part of the government’s latest effort to push for stricter professional conduct from teachers following an influx of complaints during the 2019 anti-government protests.