Hong Kong’s education officials have urged a school to take into account the needs of students while implementing regulations. This reminder follows an incident where many students had to stand in a lengthy queue outside the school in the rain to have their uniforms and hairstyles inspected on the first day of the new academic year.
Similarly, the Education Bureau addressed another school where students who were found not adhering to hair grooming standards were required to stay on campus until they were able to reach their parents.
Dozens of online posts showed a long queue of students standing outside the campus of Kowloon Tong School (Secondary Section) on Tuesday, with some claiming they were waiting for teachers to inspect their uniforms and hair.
Teresa Hon Pui-yee, the school principal, sent a letter to parents later that day defending the inspections, although she noted the school had since reviewed the process.
“In order to establish discipline, cultivate students’ sense of responsibility, and prepare for the student photo shoot on Thursday, class teachers reminded all parents and students [last] Saturday that the school would conduct a uniform inspection on Tuesday,” she said.
However, she explained that because a relatively large number of students arrived at a later time on Tuesday, they were required to queue outside the campus to wait. She pledged that students would not be marked as late if they tapped their cards when school started.
Hon maintained that students should arrive at school early to ensure sufficient time to hand in assignments and prepare learning materials, which she said would help their education and physical and mental well-being.
A bureau spokeswoman said it contacted the school to follow up on the situation.
“The Education Bureau reminded the school to consider students’ actual needs when enforcing school rules and to make appropriate school-based arrangements,” she said.
“The Education Bureau will maintain contact with the school concerned and provide suitable advice and support.”
In a separate incident involving Kowloon’s Tang King Po School, posts on a social media platform claimed that it not only enforced strict grooming rules, but also required students who did not meet the standards to remain on campus while they contacted their parents to inform them of the situation.
Some posts claimed that about 300 students were sent to the school hall and had to call their parents before they were allowed to leave.
According to some posts, the school required that hair not cover eyebrows or ears, nor touch the collar at the back.
The boys’ school has been approached for comment.
The bureau spokeswoman said it contacted the school and also reminded it to consider students’ actual needs.
“Under all circumstances, school staff should maintain discipline while respecting students’ self-esteem, right to education, individual differences and health,” she said.
Schools should draft rules that foster student self-discipline, but formulate them through communication with stakeholders to ensure understanding and consensus, she added.
