Fostering an innovative future

To encourage teachers to be progressive thinkers and provide additional motivation for change, Dr Pang - a former front-line teacher himself - advocates a professional development ladder and recognition system as length of service grows.

In today's rapidly changing knowledge-based society, teachers face a variety of updating and retraining needs in their fields. To deepen knowledge of the profession, they also need opportunities to extend skills to areas such as curriculum tailoring, action research and special education. Promotion would require training in leadership and time management among other things. Meanwhile, achievements and innovations would bring awards and other forms of recognition.

Much of HKIEd's current work in this area is conducted through its Division of Continuing Professional Education with students financing themselves. However, given the clear impact it can have, Dr Pang feels the government must consider changing its view that such learning is a personal obligation.

"A teacher's education does not comprise just the years of taking a degree. If we see the education of our children as important, we should provide teachers with the total package."

Dr Pang leads his colleagues in the charity coffee sale on the Institute's third Open Day