Practising certificate proposal sparks concern among Hong Kong educators

A proposal by the Hong Kong government to require teachers to obtain a practising certificate has sparked concern in the education sector, with some questioning whether the measure will place additional pressure on frontline educators and drive talent away.

The contentious proposal was announced in a supplementary booklet to the policy address and was not read out by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu during his annual speech on Wednesday.

“[The Education Bureau will] enhance the teacher registration mechanism and explore amending the Education Ordinance to introduce the practising certificate and regular renewal requirements,” the booklet said.

The certificate would “ensure that all schoolteachers in Hong Kong are fit and proper persons [for the job], thus upholding the professionalism of the teaching force”.

A government source said the Education Bureau would submit the amendment to the legislature next year and implement it after it is passed by lawmakers.

The new measure would mean that educators in Hong Kong must not only attain a postgraduate diploma to become a formally registered teacher, but also obtain a practising certificate from the bureau, with a validity period that must be renewed regularly in line with their professional development.