****************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (March 10):
Question:
Will the Government inform this CouncilĄG
(a) in respect of secondary and primary schools, of the respective numbers of assault cases reported to the relevant government departments in which teachers and staff were attacked by students in their schools, as well as the numbers of students who were involved and arrested by the Police, in each of the past three years; and
(b) of the specific measures to help secondary and primary school teachers and staff identify students who have propensity for violence?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) Every year, the Education and Manpower Bureau collects from discipline teachers of primary and secondary schools information about student problems which they have handled and required follow-up action or which they have handled together with students' parents or guardians. The numbers of such cases which involve "acts of physical violence to teachers" in the past three school years are listed below -
School Year 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03
No. of Cases
in Primary Schools 5 14 13
No. of Cases
in Secondary Schools 27 41 46
According to the Police, the number of assault cases reported in which teachers and staff were attacked by students in their schools and the number of students involved and arrested in the past three school years are as follows -
School Year 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03
No. of Cases - 2(1) 1(1)
in Primary Schools
(No. of Students
Involved and Arrested)
No. of Cases - 1(1) 3(3)
in Secondary Schools
(No. of Students
Involved and Arrested)
(b) The Student Health Scheme of the Department of Health has provided a mechanism for the early detection and intervention of violence among students. During the health screening process, students suspected of having psychological and health problem are further assessed at Special Assessment Centres of the Department of Health. Student Guidance Officers/Personnel/Teachers in primary schools and school social workers in secondary schools receive referrals from teachers and from the Special Assessment Centres so that timely support will be rendered to the students in need. For those suspected of more serious psychological and behavioural problems such as aggression and violent behaviours, they will be referred to educational psychologists, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists for further assessment and treatment.
Ends/Wednesday, March 10, 2004
NNNN
