Hong Kong schools must investigate complaints against teachers in a month under new Education Bureau guidelines
- Time schools have to probe allegations halved under rules, which also say even anonymous complaints have to be looked into
- One principal says new rules could lead to ‘unreasonable complaints’ being made, and changes will increase pressure on managers
Hong Kong education authorities have issued new guidelines telling schools to complete investigations into complaints against teachers within a month, with rules so detailed educators said they were a form of “micromanagement” that would only increase the pressure they were under.
The new instructions issued by the Education Bureau last Friday listed 38 points for schools to follow, including telling them to look into every complaint involving teacher misconduct, including anonymous ones.
Schools have been asked to review the “nature and gravity” of complaints made anonymously, and explain the reasons in cases that were not pursued.
Previously, institutions were allowed a more school-based approach in handling complaints and could reject anonymous ones or treat them only as internal references. Under the old guidelines, it was suggested investigations be completed within two months after receiving the complaint.
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For the pursuable complaints, the new guidelines asked schools to give complainants a written reply and submit the internal investigation report to the bureau within a month.