A new award backed by the Chief Executive aims to recognise exemplary teaching practices and foster a culture of collaboration among teachers. It reflects the importance the Government attaches to the teaching profession, and education in Hong Kong as a whole.

Nominations for the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence - the first of its kind organised by the Quality Education Fund - will be invited from November 3 to January 15.   

There are two distinct aspects to this award, according to the fund's Chairman Tai Hay-lap.

Focus on practices, not individuals

"First, we have put our focus on 'teaching practices' instead of teachers, as it is teaching practices that can be shared among the teaching profession. Second, the scheme does not stop at the award presentation ceremony. There will be post-award sharing activities that will help foster a culture of collaboration," Mr Tai said. 

"We know teachers do not work alone. As we encourage team work and collaboration, the award will also accept nominations for a group of teachers."

The award has been organised as a pilot and is open to teachers teaching the Chinese language, including Putonghua, and the English language in primary and secondary schools, and those involved in language education or development activities in special schools and kindergartens.

Five areas to be considered in choosing awardees

A Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence Sub-committee, chaired by Pang Yiu-kai, has been established under the fund's steering committee to run the Scheme.

Award winners will be selected based on merits centring around five domains, namely:

* professional competence;

* student development;

* commitment to the teaching profession and the community;

* professionalism; and

* school development.

The fund plans to announce award results in September 2004. 

Mr Tai urged the teaching professionals and parents to give their full support to this meaningful scheme and to join hands to strive for excellence.

Winners to get scholarships, join professional assembly

Individual awardees will receive $25,000 scholarships and group awardees will receive $50,000 scholarships. They will also get a trophy and membership into a professional assembly of awardees that will serve for the betterment of the teaching profession in Hong Kong.

Subject to review and resource availability, the Quality Education Fund will consider extending the scheme to teachers of other subjects in future.

Leaflets on the Award for Teaching Excellence scheme and nomination forms can be obtained from the Quality Education Fund Secretariat, regional education offices of the Education & Manpower Bureau and District Offices, or downloaded from the Award for Teaching Excellence web site at http://www.info.gov.hk/qef/ate.

Questions? Please call the hotline 2123 6054 or send an email to ate@emb.gov.hk.