Education expert: Home-School Co-operation Committee Chairperson Cheung Kwok-wah says lawmakers should find a way to facilitate school-based management as the idea is in line with our democratisation process.

Involvement of key stakeholders in school policy formulation and executive decision-making has been introduced in most developed countries with great success, and there is no turning back if we are to run our schools efficiently and democratically given our limited public resources.

This was the message today from Home-School Co-operation Committee Chairperson Cheung Kwok-wah, a keen observer of the issue.

He said fears of politicisation of school management because of the involvement of stakeholders representing parents, teachers, alumni and community leaders are not borne out of reality.

"I have only heard that school managers from diverse backgrounds bring in a wider spectrum of views and expertise," Dr Cheung said.

"On the contrary, this diversity has proven to be a strength rather than a weakness to the school system. It contributes to the usual healthy give and take in the reconciliation of honest differences. At the end of the day, they have always managed to come to a consensus and move forward. Be they Parent Managers, Teacher Managers or Alumni Managers, they have proven repeatedly that the different expertise and perspective they bring to the discussion table are mutually complementary and not confrontational. The result is an improved teaching and learning environment for their schools.

"Involvement of these key stakeholders in the policy formulation and executive decision-making of schools has been introduced in most developed countries with great success. There really is no turning back if we are to run our schools efficiently and democratically, given the limited public resources and that the vast majority of our primary and secondary institutions are aided schools."

On average, the Government spends an annual $40 million for an aided secondary school, and $20 million for an aided primary school.

Education & Manpower Bureau Senior Education Officer Anna Lee said the policy aimed to give all parties decision-making roles.

"They will cover areas such as school policies, strategic planning, human resources, finance, and self-evaluation, in order to improve the transparency and accountability of school management. This openness and infusion of new ideas from diverse stakeholders will lead to better management and a better environment for both teachers and students," she said.

The Government began promoting the school-based management framework in 1991.

"Currently, a fair number school management committees already have either teacher or parent representatives," Mrs Lee said. "Their experience indicates that there is no difficulty in electing such members, who have shown to be capable of working closely and harmoniously with others for the welfare of the students and the school".

To give the necessary legal backing to the recommended school-based management governance structure, the Education (Amendment) Bill 2002 was introduced into the Legislative Council in December 2002.

The proposed legislation on the one hand protects the rights of participation of key stakeholders in school management and, on the other hand, clearly recognises the powers and responsibilities of every party.

It will also ensure that key stakeholders have a better understanding of school operation and can effectively reflect their views concerning the school's direction and development.

Dr Cheung stressed the importance of giving school-based management its legal framework.

"Legislators have it in their power to advance local school management and to keep it in step with the times. I would like to remind them that all Parent Teacher Association Federations in Hong Kong have signed up to say that they think the time has come for parents to be involved in school-based management.

"Members should also note that while there are school sponsoring bodies that are sceptical about the idea of involving all stakeholders in school-based management, some actually welcome it and are taking positive steps to go along this direction. This is something legislators should note and encourage.

"They should be careful not just to listen to the sceptics' voice alone. For there clearly is a strong view among the population that supports the idea of school-based management and they should find a way to facilitate this movement. Because, whichever way you look at it, this is in line with the democratisation process in Hong Kong," Dr Cheung said.