Hong Kong kindergarten principal told teachers to perform personal tasks for her during coronavirus shutdown, government probe finds
- Education Bureau confirms principal of Tai Tung Sun Chuen St Teresa Kindergarten told teachers to paint her a mural and type up private works
- Teresa Wu faces threat of being struck off over her conduct, urges school to take appropriate disciplinary action
The Education Bureau confirmed allegations against Teresa Wu Chiu-ha, principal of Tai Tung Sun Chuen St Teresa Kindergarten in Tai Kok Tsui, that she had required staff to paint a mural at her home and type up manuscripts of writing she did in her spare time.
Officials on Friday said Wu – a founding chairman of the Hong Kong Kindergarten Association, established in 1976 – faced the possibility of deregistration over her conduct and urged the school to take appropriate disciplinary action in response to its findings.
The complaints were filed by former Yau Tsim Mong district councillor Owan Li, who received a letter dated July 14 upholding allegations against the principal that she had deployed school staff to run personal errands for her.
Li said among the proven accusations was that Wu had asked some teachers to paint a mural at her house in Kam Tsin Village, Sheung Shui, over a period of three weeks from late January to February, when Hong Kong schools had been shut to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
The bureau said Wu should not have directed the members of staff to perform tasks during office hours that were unrelated to work, regardless of whether they agreed to carry them out.
