Page 3 - 樂善堂梁銶琚學校（校刊2019）

Foreword

Principals are the key to quality education. It is said that ‘As is the principal, so is the school.’

The standard of school leaders is a determinant of quality education. In research on the impact
of principals’ leadership of schools, scholars and experts have unanimously indicated that the
competence of principals is crucial to raising the quality of education. Promoting the professional

development of principals is a global trend. In recent years, the Hong Kong SAR Government has
been very supportive of professional school leadership training activities. Principals, as the leaders
in school education and facilitators of educational reform, play a pivotal role in the operation,
advancement and development of schools. Their leadership has a profound influence.

The Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals (COTAP) has proposed
‘Professional Standards for Principals of Hong Kong’ with the following key objectives:
1. Ethical Enablers of All-round Growth and Balanced Advancement

2. Versatile Architects of Vibrant Learning Organisations
3. Visionary Edupreneurs of Educational Transformation and Continuous School Improvement

To be Visionary Edupreneurs, education leaders should make developing an international
mindset and inspiring innovative thinking their top priorities. Rapid globalisation makes it

difficult to forecast the social situation that students will face twenty years from now. Exchange
tours contribute to the development of a global mindset, enhance educational excellence and
allow greater understanding of the latest social development trends. Ultimately, this creates the

foundations needed for nurturing the learners of today and preparing them to be the leaders of
tomorrow.

The principals’ exchange tour to Finland organized by COTAP received an overwhelming
response and was a fruitful and stimulating journey. COTAP has started the ball rolling for future

excursions to widen our horizons. We would be glad if the government considers organising more
study tours for school leaders to gain insight and knowledge into other world-leading education
systems.

Overseas exchange tours are beneficial to the implementation of school-based management
in Hong Kong. The experience they provide enables principals to shoulder their responsibilities for
cultivating cultures and promoting education reform. The professional development of the entire
education sector will be vigorously promoted not only by exchange tours, but also by on-campus

study programs for principals, leaders, teachers and even student teachers.
So Ping Fai
Chairman

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