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Thursday, Sep 12, 2024
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Number of teachers banned from teaching due to criminal offenses hits five-year high
Fourteen teachers had their teacher registration revoked last year after they were convicted of criminal offenses, with the number hitting a five-year high, according to the Education Bureau.
Responding to lawmaker’s inquiries on Wednesday, the bureau said 99 follow-up actions were taken against teachers who were convicted of criminal offenses between 2018 to 2022, including the cancellation of teacher registration, and issuing written warnings and verbal reminders.
Of which, among the 30 follow-up actions taken by the bureau last year, 14 of them saw teachers having their teacher registration canceled - 1.8 times more than the figure in the previous year.
The bureau said under the established mechanism, if teachers are suspected of involving in criminal offenses, they will, after conclusion of the cases and completion of appeals, prudently examine all relevant information of each case, including the information provided by the teacher to the court and the judgment of the court, and consider the appropriate follow-up actions to be taken from the perspective of teaching professionalism.
“If a teacher is found to have committed an act of immorality or professional misconduct, even though the case is eventually not convicted because of various reasons, we will still handle the case seriously, including consideration of canceling his or her teacher registration, or issuing a reprimand, a warning, an advisory letter or a verbal reminder,” the bureau noted.
The bureau added that for all the cases between 2018 and 2022 involving serious offenses such as sex-related crime, fraud, criminal damage and misconduct in public office, the teacher registrations of the teachers concerned were canceled.
Meanwhile, the bureau said schools, as employers of teachers, have the responsibility to supervise their teachers and remind them of the behavior and conduct required.
According to the School Administration Guide, in the event that criminal proceedings are instituted against a teacher, regardless of whether the offense is duty-related, the teacher concerned is obliged to report the proceedings to the school.
Besides, schools should report all suspected serious offenses or misconduct cases involving their teachers, so that follow-up action can be taken concerning their teacher registration, according to the bureau.
Of which, among the 30 follow-up actions taken by the bureau last year, 14 of them saw teachers having their teacher registration canceled - 1.8 times more than the figure in the previous year.
The bureau said under the established mechanism, if teachers are suspected of involving in criminal offenses, they will, after conclusion of the cases and completion of appeals, prudently examine all relevant information of each case, including the information provided by the teacher to the court and the judgment of the court, and consider the appropriate follow-up actions to be taken from the perspective of teaching professionalism.
“If a teacher is found to have committed an act of immorality or professional misconduct, even though the case is eventually not convicted because of various reasons, we will still handle the case seriously, including consideration of canceling his or her teacher registration, or issuing a reprimand, a warning, an advisory letter or a verbal reminder,” the bureau noted.
The bureau added that for all the cases between 2018 and 2022 involving serious offenses such as sex-related crime, fraud, criminal damage and misconduct in public office, the teacher registrations of the teachers concerned were canceled.
Meanwhile, the bureau said schools, as employers of teachers, have the responsibility to supervise their teachers and remind them of the behavior and conduct required.
According to the School Administration Guide, in the event that criminal proceedings are instituted against a teacher, regardless of whether the offense is duty-related, the teacher concerned is obliged to report the proceedings to the school.
Besides, schools should report all suspected serious offenses or misconduct cases involving their teachers, so that follow-up action can be taken concerning their teacher registration, according to the bureau.
