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Following is a question by the Hon Wong Sing-chi and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (February 4):

Question:

It was reported that in late December last year, a case of campus violence occurred in a secondary school in the North District, in which a schoolboy was beaten up by several schoolmates on a number of occasions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the follow-up actions on the case taken by the Education and Manpower Bureau;

(b) whether it has conducted researches on the problem of bullying in secondary schools; if so, of the research findings and how the departments concerned have followed up the problem; if not, whether it will consider conducting such researches; and

(c) of the measures to alleviate the problem of bullying in schools, and whether life education will be strengthened to make students learn to respect life, manage their emotions and get along with peers?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) In respect of the above case of campus violence, the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) has taken the follow-up actions below:

(i) officers of the North District School Development Section and an educational psychologist have been sent to the school to discuss with the Principal, the guidance and discipline teachers and the other teachers about the follow-up actions and arrangements to be made on resumption of classes after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Appropriate guidance and counselling services have been worked out for all the students;

(ii) both the educational psychologist of EMB and the social worker of the school have provided guidance and counselling services to the students and parents concerned;

(iii) as the students involved have been temporarily suspended from school, the School Development Officer is studying their case with the school with a view to helping them complete Secondary 5 and participate in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination; and

(iv) the educational psychologist of EMB has discussed with the social worker of the school the progress of the follow-up actions taken regarding the victim and the students involved. Proposals have been made to the school on how to follow up its guidance programme in the longer term, for example, to assist teachers in enhancing students' ability to solve problems.

(b) Every year, EMB conducts a survey on the behavioural problems of students in secondary schools, collecting statistics on cases reported to have been handled by discipline teachers. Such statistics help us understand the common behavioural problems of students and facilitate planning of work in prevention, development and teacher training in relation to student guidance and discipline. Survey results show that in the 2002/03 school year, the number of "bullying" cases handled by discipline teachers in secondary schools was 643, accounting for 0.14% of the total number of secondary school students.

(c) EMB has always attached great importance to and encouraged the launching of preventive and developmental guidance and discipline activities in schools. The objective is to create a harmonious, orderly and happy learning environment, nurture in students good characters and conduct, and enhance their ability in self-understanding, mutual respect, conflict management, socialisation and communication.

To pursue the goal of whole-person development in education, EMB has increased coverage of themes or modules relating to life education as well as physical and mental health in the school curriculum. Schools are encouraged to integrate elements of life education into various subjects and train students through diversified learning activities. Students are also helped to realise their personal needs in different development stages, understand the proper ways to handle their emotions, develop positive values and outlooks on life, enhance their ability to stand up to adversities, treasure their lives and attain physical and mental balance.

In addition, special teaching materials have been produced. Good educational practices with a library of life experiences and materials on Personal Growth Education [online version] have been uploaded to the EMB's website for schools' reference. Recently in late January 2004, a resource package on "Co-creating a Harmonious School" was distributed to primary and secondary schools to advise teachers on how to prevent and handle campus bullying cases and assist schools in formulating a whole school policy against bullying.

To enhance the knowledge and skills of discipline and guidance teachers as well as the other teachers in handling behavioural problems of students, EMB arranges in-service training on a regular basis in the form of talks, workshops or seminars to strengthen the skills of teachers in tackling the problems of students.

Ends/Wednesday, February 4, 2004

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