Nominations for the election of the Council on Professional Conduct in Education will close March 7, the Education & Manpower Bureau says.

Each school can nominate a serving regular registered teacher, including the school head, to stand for election. Teachers can also run for the election as independent candidates if they have the support of 60 registered or permitted teachers serving in the same type of school.

Education organisations already approved to join the Hong Kong Teachers' Centre as an organisation-member have been invited to make nominations.

The council has 28 seats in three categories - organisation-nominated (11), teacher-nominated (14) and Permanent Secretary for Education & Manpower-appointed members (3). Elected candidates will serve a two-year term on the council from May.

Reference terms

The council was set up in April, 1994, following the recommendations in the Education Commission Report No 5. Its terms of reference are:

* to advise the Government on measures to promote professional conduct in education;

* to draft operational criteria defining the conduct expected of an educator and to gain widespread acceptance of these criteria among all sectors of the education community; and,

* to advise the Permanent Secretary for Education & Manpower on cases of dispute or alleged professional misconduct involving educators.

For enquiries about the election call 2562 0347 or write to Room 213, Hong Kong Teachers' Centre, 4 Pak Fuk Road, North Point.