Hong Kong teachers should avoid physical contact with students during photos, refrain from using nicknames, education authorities say
- Guidelines part of learning materials issued to schools to enhance teachers’ professional values and conduct, Education Bureau says
- Teachers should also avoid making ‘inappropriate posts’ on social media, even if content made private or limited to friends only, it adds
Teachers in Hong Kong should avoid physical contact with students while taking photos with them and refrain from using their nicknames, according to new training materials from the city’s education authorities.
The Education Bureau on Thursday said the training kit was aimed at enhancing teachers’ professional values and conduct, as well as helping them to better nurture students.
“Teachers are role models for students and shoulder the important responsibilities of passing on knowledge and skills, enlightening students and cultivating character,” it said in the learning materials. “Their words, deeds, ethics and values have a profound impact on students’ growth.”
Wong Kin-ho, chairman of the Hong Kong Education Workers Union, on Friday said the training kit gave schools the opportunity to inform teachers about their expectations.
“Some teachers may not be sensitive to their actions, like a male teacher might arrange a supplementary class with a female student alone,” he said. “A clear instruction on handling student-teacher relationships will be beneficial to both the teachers and the school management.”
Since the 2020-21 school year, educators have been expected to take part in at least six hours of training every three years on their professional roles, values and conduct.
Schools receive four case studies to be discussed with teachers. While the materials include some notes from the bureau, they did not spell out how schools should penalise the educators referred to in the fictitious examples.
