Hong Kong could link proposed teacher certificate to living in city: minister

Hong Kong might consider whether teachers are residing in the city before issuing proposed practising certificates, the education minister has said, in a move that could prevent educators who moved away in recent years from working locally in the future.

Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also said on Friday that teachers who failed to declare any criminal record would be banned from renewing their certificates to safeguard the interests of students and the image of the profession.

The introduction of the proposed certificate was a new requirement floated in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address last week.

The Education Bureau said it would explore amending the Education Ordinance to introduce the certificate and regular renewal requirements in order to ensure that all schoolteachers in Hong Kong are fit for the job.

Teachers in the future have to secure practising certificates from the bureau, with a validity that requires regular renewal in line with their professional development and whether they are equipped with updated knowledge.

Choi said authorities would consider a raft of factors before deciding whether to grant the certificate to the applicant.