PTU News Reporter

Typhoon Mangkhut battered Hong Kong last month, devastating a substantial number of school premises. The Education Bureau (EDB) accepted the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union’s (HKPTU) appeal to suspend class for two days after Hurricane Signal No. 10 was hoisted. Schools reached out to the HKPTU in pressing need for an extra fund to support the removal of fallen trees and debris, and other repair works. The HKPTU followed the request with a survey, in which more than 80 per cent of the respondent schools asserted the current Emergency Repairs (ER) fails to cover post-typhoon repair costs. The HKPTU demanded a Special Grant on Typhoon Disturbance which reimburses schools full repair costs to ensure recovery works commence as soon as possible. In response, the EDB introduced the Special Grant on Typhoon Disturbance with a basic ceiling. FUNG Wai-wah, president of the HKPTU, welcomes the policy, but hopes the government can reimburse full repair costs caused by typhoons and accelerate the approval procedure. In the long run, the EDB must establish a comprehensive support system for schools. …… 閱讀全文 →