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All public sector schools have started to implement school-based management
(SBM) with effect from 2000. To facilitate schools' implementation of
SBM, the Education and Manpower Bureau has streamlined administrative
procedures, devolved more responsibilities and given greater flexibility
to schools. In return, schools have to be more transparent and accountable
for their performance and the use of public funds. Each school draws up
its annual school plan, compiles a school report and a school profile
for the information of parents and members of the public. Also, schools
have put in place a staff appraisal system. The Education (Amendment)
Bill 2002 on the school-based management governance framework provides
for the participation of key stakeholders in schools' decision-making
processes and the incorporation of school management committees. Once
the bill is enacted, there would be a transition period before schools
are required to comply with the requirements.
The implementation of SBM since 2000 has been accompanied by an increasing
emphasis on internal school self-evaluation processes to assist schools
to improve the quality of learning of students. The Quality Assurance
Inspections (QAIs) conducted by the Education and Manpower Bureau provide
an external impetus for schools to set priorities for improvement in the
coming years. QAIs are being transformed into a new mode of external school
review. By phases, all schools will be supported in their self-evaluation
processes for sustained development, and in their self-assessment of performance
relative to previous standards and the performance of other schools in
Hong Kong. The self-assessment will then be reviewed by an expert external
review team once every four years. This process identifies areas in which
the school does well and allows each school to set out its direction for
improvement.
Each tertiary institution has its own structure of governance, set out
in its ordinance. The structure includes a governing body (called the
council or the court), a body to regulate academic affairs (called the
senate or the academic board) and, in some cases, an executive body.
The Chief Executive of the HKSAR, in his capacity
as Chancellor of the universities, is empowered by the ordinances to appoint
the chairman of each governing body, as well as a prescribed number of
members. This ensures a balanced distribution of members from the industrial,
commercial and academic fields. |
