Teachers toast: Chief Executive Donald Tsang congratulates award-winning teachers.

Hong Kong must enhance the quality of its human capital amid competition from other areas, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says. Cultivating among students a sense of social concern and training in academic subjects or languages are equally important.

Officiating at the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence today, Mr Tsang commended Hong Kong teachers who move with the times to nurture talent for the community and who stand firm in the face of changes both in and outside the education sector.

Arts education and personal, social and humanities education were the two key areas for this year's award, with awards presented to 41 teachers and certificates of merit to 14 teachers.

Mr Tsang said interesting lessons desgined by these teachers have boosted students' awareness and insight about their surroundings. They have learned to care for society, to know the motherland and to acquire a global view, thereby promoting the development of a civic society indirectly, he added.

The Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence this year received 170 nominations of which 25, involving 41 teachers, were selected for the award while six, involving 14 teachers, were awarded the certificates of merit. The assessment criteria were competence, student development, professionalism and commitment to the community, and school development.

Sharing activities on the excellent teaching practices will be rolled out in November. Nominations for the 2007-08 Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence will open from July 16 to October 12. It will cover special educational needs and physical education and activities.