The principal of a Hong Kong kindergarten ordered teachers to carry out personal tasks for her when classes were suspended for the coronavirus pandemic
and insulted one of them when they exposed her behaviour publicly, according to a government investigation.

The Education Bureau confirmed allegations against Teresa Wu Chiu-ha, principal of Tai Tung Sun Chuen St Teresa Kindergarten in Tai Kok Tsui, that she had required staff to paint a mural at her home and type up manuscripts of writing she did in her spare time.

Officials on Friday said Wu – a founding chairman of the Hong Kong Kindergarten Association, established in 1976 – faced the possibility of deregistration over her conduct and urged the school to take appropriate disciplinary action in response to its findings.

The complaints were filed by former Yau Tsim Mong district councillor Owan Li, who received a letter dated July 14 upholding allegations against the principal that she had deployed school staff to run personal errands for her.

Li said among the proven accusations was that Wu had asked some teachers to paint a mural at her house in Kam Tsin Village, Sheung Shui, over a period of three weeks from late January to February, when Hong Kong schools had been shut to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

The bureau said Wu should not have directed the members of staff to perform tasks during office hours that were unrelated to work, regardless of whether they agreed to carry them out.

Tai Tung Sun Chuen St Teresa Kindergarten in Tai Kok Tsui.

Officials also said it was inappropriate for Wu to ask teachers to type up manuscripts relating to her private literary works during their hours of employment.

Its investigation further proved the principal had insulted a teacher on March 17. According to Li, the verbal abuse was launched after that teacher and others revealed the allegations at a press conference.

The bureau said it would not pursue an accusation from some teachers that Wu had revised the minutes of meetings – allegedly to give the appearance the teachers involved in the mural painting thought the project was part of an attempt to beautify the campus – because the matter was under police investigation.

The bureau also said it had found no evidence to support allegations that Wu had protected a teacher who was said to have force-fed a pupil, among other claims. Officials called on those with any information to come forward.

The letter told the school to take appropriate disciplinary action in response to the findings and demanded that management notified the bureau of the outcome.

“The bureau will also follow up on the professional conduct of the principal,” officials said.

In response to queries from the Post, the bureau said it would fully consider the facts and circumstances of the case in accordance with the Education Ordinance when considering taking its own disciplinary action, such as issuing a reprimand, warning or advisory notice.

If the behaviour was deemed sufficiently serious, the bureau added, the principal’s registration could be rescinded.

Li, the ex-district councillor, said he was disappointed by the bureau’s reply, which he accused of failing to promise firm action in response to its own findings.

The Post contacted Wu for comment on Friday night.