Hong Kong teacher driven to suicide by principal’s ‘unideal’ management style and poor working environment, independent inquiry finds
- Lam Lai-tong fell to her death in March at TWGHs Leo Tung-Hai Lee Primary School in Tin Shui Wai
- Panel says head Law Yuen-yee was partly to blame and makes 19 recommendations to prevent similar tragedies
A Hong Kong teacher was driven to suicide partly by a school principal’s management style and poor working environment, an independent inquiry has found.
The tragic death of Lam Lai-tong shocked the city in March, and the panel set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding it laid much of the blame squarely at the feet of Law Yuen-yee, the principal of the TWGHs Leo Tung-Hai Lee Primary School in Tin Shui Wai.
Law was sacked on Thursday after the inquiry described her management style as “unideal”, and outlined her lack of respect for staff and a failure to fully consult them about new policies.
“Law failed to communicate and work well with her staff,” said Albert Su Yau-on, chief executive of the school’s sponsoring body, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. “There were times when she failed to do sufficient consultations before pushing ahead with new policies. Consequently, teachers had to face pressure that could have been avoided.”
The panel has made 19 recommendations on how to prevent such tragedies from happening again, including fostering a culture of respect in all schools sponsored by the Tung Wah charity.
