Page 16 - COTAP Progress Report 2015

The increasingly important and demanding roles
played by school leaders in catalysing positive
changes in our schools are consistent with
international trends. Studies of high-performing
systems overseas show a growing recognition of
the importance of effective school leadership in
improving educational outcomes and, notably, by
leading change and transforming schools through
empowerment and team-building. Proactive
strategies to develop school leadership are
evident in many top-rated education systems
(e.g. Singapore, Victoria and Ontario), including
early system-level support for high-potential
school leaders and specially designed leadership
programmes for unleashing the potential of aspiring
leaders.

Likewise, Hong Kong needs to roll out policies
and strategies in a more holistic manner to further
strengthen school leadership and enhance teachers’
professional development to better equip our
students for the challenges in the 21st century, and
for succession planning and school development.
This has led to the establishment of COTAP, which
advises the Government on policies and strategies
for professional development across the continuum
of the teaching profession.

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