Hong Kong may roll out renewal-based certification regime for teachers in 2027, with nat. security stipulations

2026-02-13 - 06:38

Hong Kong has proposed a new certification regime for teachers at publicly-funded or international schools, which would require renewal every three years. Schoolchildren interact with “Security Bear,” a mascot of the Security Bureau, during the premiere of a national security-themed interactive drama at City Hall on November 11, 2025. Photo: GovHK. Under the policy, teachers would need to fulfil a certain number of training hours and declare they will obey Hong Kong law – including national security laws – in order to renew the certification. Christine Choi, the education minister, told a media gathering on Thursday that authorities hoped to amend the Education Ordinance this year to introduce the new certification for teachers in 2027, local media reported. As part of a transition, the government will “tolerate” unlicensed teachers to continue practising for the 2027/28 academic year, with full implementation of the new policy in the 2028/29 academic year. After obtaining the initial certification, in-service teachers would be required to renew it every three years, though they will need to have undergone training sessions of at least 150 hours. For teachers who wish to return to the profession after a leave of absence, the required training would be at least 60 hours. Short-term supply teachers who are employed for no more than 30 school days in 12 months will be exempt from the practising certificate requirement. The new policy would be applied to teachers at all publicly-funded schools, private schools, international schools and kindergartens. Schools will not be allowed to hire non-licensed teachers once the new regime is fully implemented, the minister has said. ‘Fit and proper persons’ In January, Choi told the Legislative Council (LegCo) that the new regime would be in addition to the current lifetime registration system. Secretary for Education Christine Choi in 2023. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The goal of the new policy would be “to ensure that all school teachers in Hong Kong are fit and proper persons, thus upholding professionalism of the teaching force,” according to a paper the Education Bureau submitted to the legislature in late January. To apply for the certification, teachers must declare whether they have been convicted of any criminal offences during the past three years, according to another paper the bureau submitted to LegCo. They are also required to declare whether they are willing to uphold professional standards. In addition, applicants must “ordinarily reside” in Hong Kong. When asked by lawmakers in early February in LegCo as to how non-local teachers can fulfil this requirement, the minster said that applicants will need to be employed by a school and declare that they will “ordinarily reside” in Hong Kong over the coming 12 months. The teaching profession has been under scrutiny following the 2019 protest and unrest, and the enactment of the Beijing-imposed national security law in 2020. Since 2022, teachers at public-funded schools, who are civil servants, must swear allegiance to the city and promise to obey the Basic Law. However, teachers in private schools and international schools are exempt. Public-funded schools have since implemented “patriotic education,” with national security now an integral part of the curriculum. The Education Bureau also set new national security guidelines for public-funded schools. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.