The teachers' helpline has received 460 calls in the first eight weeks of operation, Secretary for Education & Manpower Prof Arthur Li says.

Professor Li told lawmakers today the nature of the calls included requests for emotional counseling, expression of opinions, enquiries and complaints. Some callers requested more than one type of service.

Of the services offered, he said 46% involved expression of views, 27% emotional counseling, 16% enquiries and 11% complaints.

Of the callers' concerns, 58% had to do with school administration and personnel, 28% education policy, 10% teachers' terms of employment and 4% personal problems.

Seven offered counselling services

Prof Li said seven callers were offered professional counseling services, while the bureau has taken follow-up action on 51 enquiries or complaints relating to individual schools' administration.

He said the number of cases the helpline received is for internal reference and is also forwarded to the Committee on Teachers' Work regularly for reference, adding the bureau will closely monitor the service's use to decide on its long-term arrangement.

Prof Li said the Hong Kong Teachers' Centre has been conducting seminars, workshops and cultural activities to help teachers relieve their work pressure, including induction courses for new teachers.

He added the centre will step up its efforts in promoting teachers' physical and mental health, and collaborate with other professional organisations to tap their expertise and experience to jointly promote mental-health education.