Introducing school-based management with parent and teacher participation can increase the transparency and accountability of schools, ensure taxpayers' money is properly used, and enhance the quality and effectiveness of school education.

This was the message from Permanent Secretary for Education & Manpower Fanny Law speaking at a luncheon today.

Mrs Law said parents and teachers have the best knowledge of students, and they should have a say in how taxpayers' money is used to meet student needs. Therefore, elected parent and teacher representatives are proposed to be included in the school management committee.

Model helps schools sustain improvement

Mrs Law said: "There is abundant evidence, both in Hong Kong and overseas, to show that school-based management provides an enabling environment to build capacity from within the school for sustainable improvement. It gives schools the autonomy to develop their own characteristics within a framework of policies, standards and accountability. The ultimate objective is to enhance student outcome."

At present, the annual subvention for all aided schools amounts to $24 billion. The annual provision for a standard 30-class secondary school is about $38 million, and the corresponding provision for a primary school is about $22 million.

"We firmly believe that individual schools should have the flexibility to determine their own priorities in the delivery of educational services and to deploy resources accordingly," Mrs Law said.

Authority decentralisation the global trend

Noting that decentralisation of authority is the global trend, she said that over the years, the Government has progressively moved away from input control to monitoring of educational outcome. Thus schools must develop the professional capacity from within to reflect, evaluate and seek continuing improvement.

"As schools enjoy more flexibility and authority, the Government has the duty to put in place the necessary checks and balances to ensure taxpayers' money is spent properly and responsibly. Our top priority is always to ensure any spending must benefit students first and foremost," Mrs Law said.

"Each school should set up its own management committee, with participation of the key stakeholders, including the school sponsoring body, parents, teachers, alumni and members of the community, and be accountable for their decisions."

No grounds to delay legislation

Turning to the Education (Amendment) Bill 2002, Mrs Law said it will be amended to provide school sponsoring bodies with the authority, among other things, to set the vision and mission, appoint up to 60% of the members of the incorporated management committee, redeploy staff between schools, appoint the school supervisor, nominate candidates for the principalship, and manage their private funds and assets.

"Furthermore, we will allow a transition period of five years for such bodies and schools to gear up and to train the school managers so they are well prepared to take on the responsibility," Mrs Law said.

She also reiterated there is no reason to delay the legislation any longer and hopes all stakeholders can work in partnership for the benefit of children.