Facts about Parent Managers

Section 40AS of the Education Ordinance stipulates that an alternate manager shall for all purposes be regarded as a manager, subject to this section. Alternate managers should basically perform all functions as expected of managers, such as attending all IMC meetings, participating in discussions, proposing agenda items and speaking on items.

In principle, managers of all categories should take part in the discussion of all items at IMC meetings. If a manager has direct or indirect interest in a discussion item, the manager should, in accordance with section 40BG of the Education Ordinance, disclose the interest before or at the meeting and withdraw from the discussion. If no interest is involved, managers should take part in the discussion in compliance with the code of ethics without the need to withdraw from the meeting.

For the code of ethics, please refer to Section 4 of the School Managers’ Handbook prepared by the EDB.

Managers of all categories should participate in the work of the IMC in a personal capacity and act in good faith. They should also make decisions in the overall interests of students. Even when managers are elected by certain constituents, their role in the IMC is to give professional advice to improve student learning, not to serve the interests of their constituents.

In considering whether to convey a stakeholder’s opinion, managers should take into account the nature of the opinion, for example, whether it is related to students’ learning and growth. Managers may explore with the school principal the feasibility of such an arrangement, or discuss with the school supervisor and include a particular item on the meeting agenda, if necessary.

For details, please refer to paragraph 4.1.2 in Section 4 of the School Managers’ Handbook prepared by the EDB.

Although a manager can play the role as a bridge of communication between the IMC and the stakeholders of his/her respective constituents, the manager essentially participates in the work of the IMC in a personal capacity and acts in good faith. As a member of the IMC, the manager should adhere to the general principle of confidentiality at meetings and respect the collective decision of the IMC. He/she should not reveal without authorisation the meeting content, such as opinions of individual managers and information involving personal privacy; or disclose any classified information of school.

For the principle of confidentiality, please refer to paragraph 4.1.7 in Section 4 of the School Managers’ Handbook prepared by the EDB.

Like the other managers, a parent manager should set aside time to be involved in and well acquainted with the school in order to maintain smooth operation of the IMC and seek the greatest benefit for students’ learning and growth. As such, the above four options are the responsibilities of a parent manager.

For roles and responsibilities of school managers, please refer to Chapter 2 of Tips for School Managers prepared by the EDB.

As stipulated in section 40AS(6)(c) of the Education Ordinance, for the purposes of establishing a quorum of a meeting of IMC, an alternative parent manager of the school shall not be counted unless no parent manager of the school is present at the meeting.

Section 40AS(4) of the Education Ordinance stipulates that an alternate parent manager of a school shall not vote on any matter to be resolved by the IMC by voting unless –
(a) (in the case of a matter to be resolved at a meeting of the IMC) no parent manager of the school is present at the meeting;
(b) (in the case of a matter to be resolved otherwise) the school has no parent manager for the time being.