Facts about Teacher Managers

Paragraph 4.1.2 in Section 4 of the School Managers’ Handbook prepared by the Education Bureau (EDB) states that managers should avoid using their position for personal gain or the gain of other outside parties, including their friends and relatives. Even when managers are elected by certain constituents, their role in the incorporated management committee (IMC) is to give professional advice to improve student learning, not to serve the interests of their constituents.

For details, please refer to Section 4 “Code of Ethics for School Managers” of the School Managers’ Handbook prepared by the EDB.

Paragraph 4.1.5 in Section 4 of the School Managers’ Handbook states that the IMC acts as a group. Each manager has a right to participate and to state his/her own views, while respecting the views of others. Hence, a teacher manager is expected to advise the IMC on curriculum development as well as learning and teaching in a bid to provide quality education for students.

For details, please refer to Section 4 “Code of Ethics for School Managers” of the School Managers’ Handbook prepared by the EDB.

Section 40AS(1) of the Education Ordinance stipulates that an alternate manager shall for all purposes be regarded as a manager subject to section 40AS. Hence, the functions of an alternate teacher manager are no different from those of other managers. Alternate managers should perform all functions as expected of managers, such as attending all IMC meetings, participating in discussions, proposing agenda items and speaking on items.

Section 40AS(3) of the Education Ordinance stipulates that an alternate teacher 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 teacher manager of the school is present at the meeting;
(b) (in the case of a matter to be resolved otherwise) the school has no teacher manager for the time being.

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

While an IMC is responsible for managing a school and mapping out development strategies and direction in light of school contexts and students’ learning needs, a teacher consultative committee (however described) serves as a channel of communication between the IMC and school staff. An IMC should not be confused with a teacher consultative committee as they perform different functions. Engaging in the overall school management in an individual capacity, a teacher manager is expected to advise the IMC on curriculum development as well as learning and teaching. As for matters pertinent to teachers’ rights and complaints, it is more appropriate that teacher representatives follow up on related issues through the teacher consultative committee.