Education Amendment Bill to Be Gazetted Tomorrow, Tightening Teacher Registration
HK01 · 5 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong government will gazette the Education (Amendment) Bill 2026 on Friday (November 13), introducing a mandatory practicing certificate requirement for all teachers and principals across government-funded, private, international schools, and kindergartens . The bill, scheduled for first and second reading in the Legislative Council on November 25, also establishes safeguards to prevent individuals convicted of national security offenses from teaching .
Key Points
- All teachers and principals in Hong Kong schools must hold both teacher registration and a practicing certificate under the amended ordinance
- Practicing certificates will be valid for a maximum of three academic years and require continuous professional development compliance
- A security mechanism will bar individuals convicted of national security crimes from teacher registration
- Applicants must meet six criteria including declaring criminal records and declaring commitment to professional standards and the Basic Law
- About 90,000 of the 160,000 registered teachers are currently inactive, holding "ice card" status
- Short-term substitute teachers working fewer than 30 school days per 12 months are exempt from the certificate requirement
Why It Matters
The amendment represents the most significant overhaul of teacher regulation in recent years, directly addressing public expectations for professional accountability and student safety amid heightened concerns about national security in schools . With industry stakeholders and legislators broadly supporting the changes, the bill is expected to pass smoothly, potentially setting a precedent for professional licensing reforms in other sectors.
The amendment represents the most significant overhaul of teacher regulation in recent years, directly addressing public expectations for professional accountability and student safety amid heightened concerns about national security in schools . With industry stakeholders and legislators broadly supporting the changes, the bill is expected to pass smoothly, potentially setting a precedent for professional licensing reforms in other sectors.