In recent months, there has been a wave of trade union dissolution in Hong Kong. The Educational Association, which has more than 90,000 members and the largest single-industry trade union in Hong Kong, also announced its dissolution in August.
With the disappearance of the Education Association, the frontline teachers are the first to bear the brunt; in the face of the overwhelming workload and pressure, how can their rights and benefits be fought for in the future?
Ding Jianhua, a former council member of the Kowloon City District and now the chairman of the Hong Kong Kindergarten Education Professional Exchange Association, said that on weekdays, many front-line teachers expressed dissatisfaction with the existing education policy. In the face of shrinking classes and killing schools, no organization can provide assistance.
He confessed that he intends to set up a new teachers' union, and believes that it is necessary to "return to the original heart" and create a platform led by teachers to fight for their rights.
He criticized the National Security Education as a "failure" when it came to the topping of Mount Tai. However, if there is proper communication and education, I believe all teachers in Hong Kong are willing to cooperate.
Ding Jianhua, who was a member of the Kowloon City District Council and is now the chairman of the Hong Kong Kindergarten Education Professional Exchange Association, expressed his intention to set up a new teachers' union to speak for teachers.
(Photo by Lu Nuojun)
Ding Jianhua is a district worker in Kowloon City. He fought for re-election in the district elections the previous year. He was finally defeated by lawyer and democrat Huang Guotong.
He is also the director of an educational institution. He was involved in the education industry in his early years. He developed a music teaching curriculum more than 20 years ago, and it is still adopted by many kindergartens.
Although he is not a teacher, he believes that he has a good understanding of the teaching profession, and he is also aware of the difficulties that teachers are facing. "Because I am not the principal or supervisor, it is easier to get in touch with teachers. It’s true voice.” He pointed out that recent education policies have often had an impact on frontline teachers and school-running organizations. For example, under the reform of education, teachers’ workload has increased unabated, and they have to work hard to cope with further education.
In the epidemic situation, a class of teachers will teach online. Ding Jianhua described that teachers must "write, direct and perform by themselves," and learn to cut films. The scope of work in the entire industry is like "more than one section," but the bureau has nothing. support.
He believes that the effective implementation of online classes depends on teachers’ sense of responsibility to "do good things." However, in the face of declining birthrates and immigration waves, the number of students is declining year-on-year, but the government is only shrinking classes and killing schools. Teachers are like "tools." "When we are in a difficult situation, we must talk together, and when there are no students, we will kill." Ding pointed out that education is a profession. Teachers start from being trained and work on the first day, and then they "have never changed careers." He criticized the current policy for teachers. It is not humane. "Education is an important and indispensable part of Hong Kong. Teachers are a precious resource among them. The government should not treat teachers in the same way."
Lament that there is no policy mentioning the physical and mental health of teachers
Speaking of the disappearance of the Education Association, this "veteran" trade union that was once composed of teachers from various universities, middle schools, primary schools, kindergartens, and special schools in Hong Kong, apart from being well-known for its supermarkets, has actually fought for the rights of teachers for nearly half a century.
Regarding the Education Association, Ding Jianhua believes that the early education association was indeed for the sake of teachers, but it became politicized in the later period. He planned to establish a "Hong Kong Teachers Union" in the hope of "returning to the original heart" and "striving for welfare and protection of rights and interests" for teachers. .
He also mentioned that he heard negative news about teachers’ physical and mental health from time to time in the newspapers. He thought it was only the tip of the iceberg. He hoped to provide assistance in this regard in the future. "There has never been a policy that mentions teachers’ physical and mental health. The group speaks for them.” He pointed out that in the future, the union will not be led by him. He hopes to attract a large number of teachers to join and then advocate them.
Ding pointed out that education is a major. Teachers have "not considered changing careers" since they are trained and working on the first day. He criticized the current policies for being inhumane to teachers.
(Photo by Lu Nuojun)
Ding Jianhua mentioned that the current education policy can be improved in many areas.
Take kindergartens as an example. All schools under the "Free Quality Kindergarten Education Program" will be subsidized by the government. The amount is calculated on the basis of the student's "head". However, as the birth rate drops, the increase in subsidy is only based on the inflation rate. For private kindergartens, The only assistance received was the "Ensure Employment" program, both of which are under severe operating pressure.
Criticizing National Security Education for "Good Failure"
For National Security Education, Ding Jianhua criticized that the government implemented it too hastily and lacked support. He believed that a process of learning and explanation was needed before teachers were sincerely willing to do it. "In fact, it is a failure. Education, but the family doesn’t use the teacher’s method to do it.” He also pointed out that national security education should be implemented in an orderly manner and teachers should be provided with teaching materials. Legal provisions...The premise is that the government does not teach, and the policy should be followed (teacher).” Ding pointed out that many teachers reported that they “do not know how to teach” and are worried that “teaching wrong” will violate the law; But he believes that if there is proper communication and education, I believe all teachers in Hong Kong are willing to cooperate.
In the face of declining birth rates, immigration waves, etc., the number of students in Hong Kong is declining year-on-year.
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Ding Jianhua has signed up to run for the legislative council's education functional constituency. Other candidates include Lin Rifeng, Zhu Guoqiang, Wen Shiyong, and Lin Yongshi.
For the list of candidates from all sectors in the Legislative Council election, please click here to refer to the "Hong Kong 01" election website.
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