Training Courses for School Managers

This session is designed to provide serving and potential managers, or those with experience in education and school operation in Hong Kong, with an advanced knowledge of the functions, powers, and code of ethics of school managers in IMCs.   It also focuses on the functions and roles of the Treasurer and Secretary in an IMC for the effective operations of schools.   It will also discuss how IMCs can integrate the school sponsoring body's core values with school situations when developing school strategies.  Through case studies, the speaker will share how to establish collaborative IMCs.

Speaker: Ms WONG She Lai Shirley

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools

This session is designed to help school managers with a basic knowledge of human resource and financial management in schools to develop an in-depth understanding of the rules and regulations that IMCs need to consider when approving and monitoring the related school operations.  Through case studies of selected current and important school issues related to human resources management (e.g., teacher appointment, appraisal, promotion, and complaints) and financial management (e.g., processing of tenders, use of various student learning funds, and freezing of teacher promotion posts), the speaker will lead participants to examine the factors that IMCs should deliberate for endorsing the proposals and the subsequent monitoring actions.

Speaker: Pr NG Yau Keung Benjamin

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools

This session introduces the general legal concepts underpinning the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and its establishment and enforcement in Hong Kong.  It also highlights the legal concepts of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the National Security Law), the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance and the National Anthem Ordinance.  Through case sharing and discussions, the speakers help participants to understand the implications of the Ordinances for schools on the one hand and to implement feasible and effective ways of monitoring school IMCs' compliance with the laws on the other hand appropriately formulate and implement policies in safeguarding national security education.

Speaker: Mr CHAN Hiu Fung Nick and Pr CHAN Yee Wah

Learning Area(s): II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

This session examines two main human resource themes in schools – (1) employment and staffing issues, and (2) negligence, equality and discrimination, and protection from legal liability.  The former deals with staffing matters such as selection, promotion, contract, appraisal and dismissal, and the latter deals with risk management and protection from legal liability.  Using court cases reported in Hong Kong schools, the two speakers will examine the scenarios, taking into account legal constraints and school-contextual factors, and recommend possible strategies for school managers' consideration.  It aims to help participants make better human resources decisions in their IMCs, and protect them from legal liability.

Speaker: Mr AU Pak Ching and Pr NG Yau Keung Benjamin

Learning Area(s): II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

This session aims to explain to school managers the legal elements that schools must consider when dealing with complaints from the public, staff, parents, and students, and when settling disputes between different stakeholders.  Through case studies, the speakers share with the participants with practical advice on how to handle complaints and disputes, with due legal consideration, to protect the IMCs from legal liability.  The speakers will also introduce the Apology Ordinance to school managers and discuss its implications for schools.

Speaker: Mr CHOW Wai Hung and Pr CHOY Sai Hung

Learning Area(s): IV. School Development and Policy

This session is designed to make school managers aware of the potential risks that schools may encounter in school operations and student affairs, and the subsequent legal liabilities.  It introduces school managers to the various legal concepts relating to school operations and the management of student affairs.  Through the sharing of local school cases, the speakers help participants understand the legal responsibilities of IMCs in developing appropriate policies and monitoring school operations and student affairs.

Speaker: Mr CHUNG Ho Yee Nelson, Dr TAM Wai Ming Frank (Course A), and Pr NG Yau Keung Benjamin (Course B)

Learning Area(s): IV. School Development and Policy

This session will introduce new school managers to the latest education initiatives in Hong Kong that affect school operations, highlighting the operation principles of the Constitution, Basic Law and National Security Education to school operations, for helping schools formulate appropriate plans and policies for nurturing students’ national identity and responsibilities.

Speaker:  Pr CHOY Sai Hung

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, IV. School Development and Policy

This session provides new school managers a general overview of school-based management (SBM) development in Hong Kong.  It focuses on the functions, responsibilities, operations and the standing meeting protocols of Incorporated Management Committees (IMCs).  It aims to enable the new school managers to understand the operation of IMCs, and the working relationship with school staff so that the new school managers could perform their roles effectively and foster the development of the schools.

Speaker: Dr CHEUNG Wing Ming Francis

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, IV. School Development and Policy

This session focuses on the roles and responsibilities of various categories of school managers, differentiating the role of a school manager from that of a Parent-teacher Association chairperson (and committee members), Alumni Association chairperson (and committee members) or Teacher. It also introduces the legal protection and ethical conduct to school managers. The session will use case studies to inspire participants to explore better ways to enhance collaborations in the IMCs.

Speaker: Mr CHAN Shiu Choy

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools

This session aims to give new school managers a general overview of school finance and human resources management, referring to the Education Ordinance and the Code of Aid. It highlights to school managers the importance of their monitoring roles in school financial and human resources to effectively monitor the schools’ use of public funds and formulate different policies for using those resources.

Speaker: Dr CHU Kai Wing

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools

The speaker will share with supervisors how they can effectively lead IMCs through participative decision making and consider the views of stakeholders to make decisions.  The discussion includes the necessary steps for effective participative decision making, human resource management (including succession planning), financial resource management and school manager training.  The implementation of annual school development plans will be used as an example to illustrate how supervisors could lead IMCs strategically.

Speaker: Mr KUNG Kwong Pui Joseph

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

The speaker will share cases with participants to illustrate the expected governance standards for IMCs and supervisors.  This session will illustrate appropriate and inappropriate behaviours of supervisors as well as how to establish high ethical standards within IMCs.  The session will discuss the implications of the Guidelines on Teachers' Professional Conduct towards the performance of IMCs and supervisors, and will use hypothetical cases of good practice and malpractice to illustrate the importance of maintaining high ethical standards of the IMC.

Speaker: Ms WONG She Lai Shirley

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

The speakers will share with participants the ''Dos & Don'ts'' of leading the IMC in implementing the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance, the National Anthem Ordinance and National Security Education in schools.  This session will discuss the implications of the ''National Security: Specific Measures for Schools (Enhanced Version dated June 2023)''(issued by EDB) on the leadership of supervisors in schools and share various cases and strategies to facilitate the learning of participants.

Speaker: Dr CHEUNG Wing Ming Francis and Ms WOO Wai See Alice

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

A school supervisor, who oversees the IMC, is accountable to the Permanent Secretary of Education and the School Sponsoring Body for the school's performance.  Even though the supervisor is not an employee of the school, he/she takes the ultimate responsibility for leading the school through working closely with the principal.  A supervisor on one hand is the close collaborator of the principal and on the other hand the supervisor of the principal, who is responsible for assessing the principal's performance.  Through the discussion of cases and examples, the speaker will share with participants how to (1) lead the principal in actualizing the vision and mission of the school; and (2) work effectively with the principal.

Speaker: Dr CHEUNG Wing Ming Francis

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

Whether a school succeeds in actualizing its visions depends largely on how school leaders lead the school.  Awareness in risk management enables supervisors to focus on important domains of work such as compliance, operation and development matters, so that they can lead schools to actualize their visions.  Through case sharing, this session discusses and shares two important approaches to cultivate supervisors' awareness in risk management: (1) how to become an action learning supervisor through self-reflection; (2) effective performance management of the principal, including two key elements: accountability and feedback on performance.

Speaker: Dr CHEUNG Wing Ming Francis

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

This session is designed to help the participants understand the relevant legal issues that affect their effective assumption of the role of school supervisor.  The session will introduce the essential statutory requirements for the operation of IMCs, and issues relating to school liability, school insurance, human rights, equal opportunities, and privacy.  The session will also discuss the most challenging and frequently neglected legal issues in schools, with a particular focus on the Law of Tort, as this is an area that can easily be neglected by supervisors.

Speaker: Dr CHEUNG Wing Ming Francis and Ms WOO Wai See Alice

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

This session focuses on how school supervisors lead the school to handle complaints, crisis and the media.  Apart from following the schools' established guidelines, the speaker will share other practical considerations in handling complaints.  In addition to handling complaints from non-school members, the speaker will also share how to establish guidelines for handling complaints from school members.  While the objective of crisis management is to control damage, the speaker will discuss practical steps and feasible ways to control damage.  This session will also illustrate strategies for dealing media effectively with cases.

Speaker: Mr KUNG Kwong Pui Joseph

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

This session is designed to raise the awareness of school supervisors to take preventive measures to manage risks.  The speaker will introduce the concept of risk management with examples, including three types of leadership for risk management: Responsive Leadership, Adaptive Leadership and Proactive Leadership.  In the absence of an early risk detection mechanism, there are different types of potential risks in schools.  Therefore, this session will discuss practical guidelines for establishing preventive measures and policies in schools, so that the schools can take into account the views of stakeholders and comply with legal requirements.

Speaker: Dr CHEUNG Wing Ming Francis

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

This session is designed to share with school supervisors how to supervise schools by adopting the best practice of school governance.  With experience since the late 1990s as a supervisor of different primary, secondary and special schools, the speaker will share the guiding principles of governance for publicly funded schools.  To help supervisors master these principles, the session provides concrete examples and cases, including how to conduct the business of the IMC in a professional and effective manner, how to supervise the IMC in handling of confidential issues, and how to enhance communication among key stakeholders.  Supervisors are expected to actively engage in discussion and exchange during the session.

Speaker: Dr CHEUNG Wing Ming Francis

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

The Structured Manager Training Programme (the programme) provides appropriate training content for school managers with different backgrounds and needs, including (i) serving/potential school supervisors in IMC schools; (ii) serving/potential IMC managers with limited or no experience in education and school operation; and (iii) serving/potential IMC managers with experience in education and school operation, to help them understand their roles and responsibilities under the school-based management ethos and to effectively fulfill their duties as school managers.  The programme is specifically designed for IMCs.  Some of the content is also suitable for School Management Committees Chairpersons and Members of Government Schools.

The Education Bureau has commissioned Education Convergence (EC) to organise the programme for the 2024/25 school year and EC will announce the details of the programme in its website within August.

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

The content of the sharing session includes schools sharing their experiences on good practices of IMC operations and effective school governance, as well as the EDB sharing insights from their visits to IMC schools.

The content of the briefing is as follows:

• Fostering a Learning Culture within the IMC
• Cultivating a Culture of Continuous Professional Growth: Integrating Manager Development elements into IMC Meetings
• Fostering Quality Governance: Insights from IMC School Visits

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management

The seminar, co-organised by the Education Bureau and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), aims to introduce the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, integrity management for school personnel, common corruption risks and cases in schools, how school managers can establish an anti-corruption and integrity culture within the school, and the support provided by the ICAC to schools.

Learning Area(s): II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools

• School-based management policies
• Financial management in schools
• Human resource management in schools
• Self-reflection of the school supervisor and appraisal for the school principal
• Legal matters in schools
• Strategies for complaint handling, crisis management and media handling  

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

Workshops on Mediation Skills: Settling disputes with school staff

• The workshops aim to introduce the features of mediation, role of mediators as well as demonstrate practical mediation skills/techniques applicable to school settings.  Participants will be divided into small groups and learn the mediation skills for resolving disagreement among stakeholders through role-plays under the guidance of accredited mediators.  

Learning Area(s): II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

Learning Area(s): II. Human Resource Management of Schools, III. Financial Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

Enhancing School Leadership – Roles of SMC members in Government Schools

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, IV. School Development and Policy

The content of the programme includes:

1. Understanding on IMC – Governance Framework;
2. Parent Managers Election; and
3. Roles of Parent Managers.

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management

Learning Area(s): II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy

Content of the seminars include the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law, historical background of the Basic Law, and importance of enacting the Hong Kong National Security Law, etc.

Learning Area(s): IV. School Development and Policy

The Briefing sessions  aim to introduce the insurance policies for schools provided by the Education Bureau:

1. The BIP covers public liability, employees’ compensation and group personal accident risks for all aided and caput schools; and
2. The IMCLIP covers management liability, vicarious educator liability and employment-related matters for aided and caput schools with an Incorporated Management Committee.

Learning Area(s): I. School-based Management, II. Human Resource Management of Schools, IV. School Development and Policy