School board in Hong Kong votes to dismiss principal after scandal involving permanently absent pupils
A board member says an acting principal has been appointed and hopes a permanent head will be in place before the new school year starts on September 1
The board of a troubled primary school in Tuen Mun has voted to oust its principal, who is embroiled in a series of controversies over governance, including exaggerating enrolment numbers to secure more funding.
A source close to the board of Hing Tak School said on Friday that 17 members voted for principal Chan Cheung-ping’s dismissal. More than half of members must vote to remove a head. Two were against the dismissal and three did not vote – one citing a conflict of interest.
Chan did not attend the meeting, claiming she was sick.
Two days before the meeting, the government’s Education Bureau appointed three more members to the board, bringing the total number of those able to vote to 24, with 11 appointed by the bureau.
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Last week, the government-subsidised school found itself embroiled in a series of scandals after teachers’ complaints about its poor governance were publicised.
The teachers said 21 pupils had been absent for up to two years but remained on the books. But the principal rejected the allegations, saying absent pupils were on official leave such as for family or health reasons, with many being cross-border children.
Lui Ki-cheung, who was appointed to the board by the Education Bureau, said the principal’s dismissal took effect immediately under section 9 of the Employment Ordinance. This means her employer does not have to give her formal notice of dismissal or payment in lieu of notice.
He said the bureau’s legal representatives noted the principal made severe mistakes, so she could be dismissed even while she was on sick leave.
Lui said the board noted that the principal alienated teachers, did not follow procedures in hiring and promoting staff and failed to provide information to them after she did not turn up at the school.
“Even though she’s not feeling well, she has not effectively executed her responsibilities,” he said.
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To ensure there will not be a repeat of the saga, Lui said systems would be put in place to ensure fairness and openness, such as delegating the power to hire and promote teachers and to deal with financial matters to different board members.
Lui added the board had appointed from among staff an acting principal and two acting assistant principals. In the meantime, the school will advertise for a permanent head, with the hope that the person recruited could be in place by the start of the new school year on September 1.
“We hope [this incident] will not affect any pupils and I want to let parents know that they do not need to worry,” he said.
