The Chairman of the Quality Education Fund (QEF) Steering Committee, Mr Irving Koo, announced the commencement of the consultation exercise on the Outstanding Teacher and School Awards (OTSA) today (Thursday).
A consultation document containing proposals of the Task Group on OTSA on the Outstanding Teacher Awards (OTA) and the Outstanding School Awards (OSA) has been distributed to all schools, kindergartens, educational bodies, parent-teacher associations, academics and education-related advisory bodies for a one-month consultation until July 31, 1998.
"The objective of the OTSA goes beyond the award of commendable performance. The Task Group hopes the OTSA will present an opportunity for the whole education sector to reflect on what constitutes good educational practices, and examine how such practices could be encouraged and promoted within the education sector in the longer term," Mr Koo said.
Mr Koo noted that the proposed OTSA would be organised under the aegis of the QEF pursuant to a recommendation of the Education Commission Report No. 7 that outstanding performance of teachers and schools should be awarded.
The consultation document contains proposals covering various aspects of the OTA and OSA, which include the objectives, nature and types of the awards, award criteria, assessment procedures and implementation schedule etc for comments.
"We welcome comments and suggestions from front-line teachers, school heads and other members of the education profession to improve and refine the proposed award schemes. The joint efforts of all quarters of the education sector is vital to the development of an award scheme which could be widely recognised and valued by fellow teachers and school heads, and which would facilitate the effort of front-line educators to strive for excellence," said Mr Koo.
To facilitate the exchange of views between members of the Task Group on the OTSA, members of its Sub-groups on OTA and OSA and other members of the education sector on the proposed award schemes, three consultation meetings have been arranged during the consultation period.
The organisation of an OTSA in Hong Kong attests to the Government's commitment in promoting a quality education culture through the award and dissemination of excellent educational practices and its recognition for the contribution of teachers and school heads in educating our children.
Comments and views on the OTSA should be forwarded to the QEF Secretariat before July 31, 1998 at the following address:
QEF Secretariat
Rooms 1505 - 1507
15th floor, Edinburgh Tower
15 Queen's Road Central
Central
Fax No.: 2530 4451
End/Thursday, July 2, 1998