Professional accountability is the key to continuing improvement and sustainable development of schools, Permanent Secretary for Education & Manpower Fanny Law says.

"Professional accountability refers to one's responsibility to oneself and includes a moral commitment to serve the interest of students, and a professional obligation to expand one's repertoire, to reflect on the effectiveness of one's practice, and to contribute to the continuing improvement of one's organisation and profession," she said.

Speaking at the School Leadership & Sustainability Conference today, Mrs Law stressed professional accountability would build on the other two forms of accountability - administrative and market accountability.

Administrative accountability refers to the contractual obligations to one's employers and the funding agent, and market accountability refers to the obligation towards stakeholders.

Build capacity for sustainable development via self-assessment

On the enhanced school development and accountability processes introduced last year, she said they aim to build professional capacity for sustainable development through systematic and rigorous school self-evaluation and school self-assessment.

The process is intended to be developmental and improvement-oriented, rooted in the belief that data could drive improvement and a balance of support and pressure is necessary for sustainable development.

She said good practices in strategic and action planning have demonstrated how school capacity is enhanced by the formulation of clear development priorities, well-conceived implementation plans and an effective mechanism for formative evaluation of school work.

On the core values of education, Mrs Law said an unswerving belief that every student could learn, acceptance of responsibility for students' learning despite other contributing factors, and a commitment to continuing professional development and the pursuit of excellence are of paramount importance to school leaders.

Professionals accountable for student outcome

"All professionals engaged in education have a moral obligation to prepare students adequately for work or further study by the time they graduate. They are accountable for the quality of education and student outcome of their school," she said.

"Accountability is about taking account of the views, aspirations and expectations of the stakeholders in making decisions, and informing stakeholders of the extent to which their aspirations are met using data that matter."

More than 2,500 school heads and teachers will take part in the three-day conference, which is co-organised by the Education & Manpower Bureau, English Schools Foundation and Bond International College.

Professor Michael Fullan from the University of Toronto will share his extensive experience in organising school improvement projects worldwide with the participants.