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The Education Bureau (EDB) today (July 8) launched a two-month public consultation on the suitability of disclosing teachers' registration information.
The Consultation Document on Disclosure of Teachers' Registration Information has been uploaded to the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/about-edb/press/consultation/index.html).
An EDB spokesman said, "According to the Education Ordinance, all teachers who teach in kindergartens and primary and secondary schools have to be teachers with registration. The EDB has all along been implementing a stringent teacher registration mechanism to ensure that each teacher has met the qualifications and requirements for registration while unsuitable or improper persons are prevented from becoming teachers. The EDB may cancel the teacher registration of any person who has committed a serious offence or serious misconduct. A teacher whose registration is cancelled cannot teach in any school.
"As teachers' registration information involves teachers' personal data, the EDB has to comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance when handling public enquiries about teachers' registration information. Hence, the EDB will reject any public request for the list of teachers with registration or information on individual teachers' registration status without the prior consent of the data subject or exemptions provided under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance."
The spokesman added, "While some members of the public think that the EDB should disclose the list of teachers with registration, some educational bodies, however, express their worries and objections to the disclosure of the list. The EDB has to strike a balance between the public's right to know and protecting the privacy of teachers with registration."
In order to enhance the transparency of teachers' registration information in a lawful, reasonable and fair manner and improve the existing mechanism, the EDB is now inviting the public to give their views on whether it is appropriate to disclose the teachers' registration information. Views from all sectors are welcome. The EDB will hold consultation sessions to solicit views and details will be announced later.
Members of the public are invited to send in their views to the Teacher Registration Team of the EDB by post (2/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon), by fax (2520 0065) or via email (trt@edb.gov.hk) on or before September 7, 2015.
Ends/Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:41
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