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All serving registered teachers, permitted teachers and government school teachers, including school heads, regular teachers and temporary teachers employed on a monthly basis, are urged to participate in the Council on Professional Conduct in Education (CPC) election next Tuesday (April 20) to elect candidates to represent them in the CPC, which is aimed at promoting professional conduct in education.
A spokesman for the Education Bureau said that the election would be held in individual schools in accordance with the guidance notes issued by the bureau. The voting is conducted on a one-teacher-one-vote basis.
"Teachers serving in more than one school have to opt to exercise their voting right in only one of the schools," he said.
The spokesman added, "Should they vote in more than one school, the ballot papers will be considered null. We will conduct random inspections to ensure the election is fair."
Teachers attending full-day courses run by the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) may cast their votes in the polling station set up on the Tai Po Campus of the HKIEd. Those attending full-day courses in the Town Centre of the HKIEd may cast their votes in the polling station set up in the Council Secretariat at Room 701, 7/F, Kowloon Government Offices, 405 Nathan Road, Kowloon. "These teachers are not allowed to vote in their own schools to avoid double voting," the spokesman said.
Teachers who are eligible to vote are reminded to study the instructions on the ballot papers before casting their votes.
"Voters should not put down their names or any other marks of identification on the ballot papers. Otherwise, the vote will be considered void," the spokesman said.
Voters from primary and secondary schools may each vote for a maximum of five candidates in their respective (primary/secondary) category, including three from aided schools, one from government schools and one from private schools. Each of these candidates should obtain a minimum of 500 votes to get elected.
Voters from kindergartens may vote for a maximum of two candidates. Since there is only one candidate from the category of special schools, voters from special schools may vote for a maximum of one candidate and the other seat in this category will be vacant. To get elected, each candidate from the category of kindergartens should obtain a minimum of 300 votes, while the candidate from the category of special schools should obtain a minimum of 200 votes.
Voters are reminded not to choose more than the number of candidates specified in their respective category of schools (secondary schools/primary schools/kindergartens/special schools) or the vote will be considered invalid.
The CPC is a non-statutory body to advise the government on measures to promote professional conduct in education, to draft operational criteria defining the conduct expected of an educator, and to advise the Permanent Secretary for Education on cases involving disputes or alleged professional misconduct involving educators.
The bureau has received a total of 49 nominations. Among them, 25 are running for seats in the organisation-nominated category and 24 for seats in the teacher-nominated category.
Results of the election will be announced after the completion of vote counting on April 23.
Ends/Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:01
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