This study examined the relationships between principals’ leadership practices (LP), professional learning community (PLC), teachers’ perceptions of self-efficacy (TE) and whole-child development (WCD) in the context of kindergarten education. A total of 2120 Hong Kong kindergarten teachers participated in the study. Results showed that LP had positive effects on five components of PLC; LP facilitated teachers’ perceived WCD directly and indirectly through the mediation of three PLC components, namely shared sense of purpose, collaborative activity and a collective focus on child learning. Moreover, three PLC components (i.e., a collective focus on child learning, deprivatized practice and reflective dialogue) had positive effects on teachers’ perceived WCD via self-efficacy. The implications for enhancing PLCs in kindergartens are discussed. Copyright © 2019 All Academic, Inc.

This study examined the relationships between professional learning communities (PLCs), principal leadership practices and teacher commitment to kindergartens among 2,120 educators from 153 Hong Kong kindergartens. The relationships were analyzed at both school and teacher levels using multilevel structural equation modeling. The result showed that at both levels, leadership practices promoted PLCs and exerted an indirect effect on teacher commitment through collaborative activities. Moreover, an indirect effect through reflective dialogue and a direct effect of leadership practices on teacher commitment were found at the teacher level. In contrast, the mediating effects of collective focus on student learning were insignificant at both levels. ECE principals are encouraged to introduce PLCs to promote teacher learning and commitment in the time of reforms. Copyright © 2020 All Academic, Inc.

The current COVID19 pandemic has required several, mostly at short notice, school modifications. School leaders and educators have always worked in a complex world to ensure continuity for students, families, and communities. This notion has contributed to controversies about when schools should be closed; what actions, protective measures school leaders should take to benefit the school community without stopping teaching and learning opportunities for students. In this study, we explore how leadership in the early childhood education sector in Hong Kong is coping during this period to build resilience. This paper uses constant comparative analysis to illustrate the role of school principals' immediate reaction, short-term recovery, and time for reflection. The data collected from surveys and interviews are organised through coding, and themes were generated and further supported by case studies from the field to develop conceptual understanding. The article closes with a conceptual analysis that focuses on three sets of factors: dispositional, emotional, and contextual, to explain the changing role of ECE principals in uncertain times to develop resilience in teams and the ECE community. Copyright © 2021 the 9th European Conference on Education.

Programming is perceived to be an indispensable type of literacy in the digital era. To effectively promote and implement programming in K–12 education, it is necessary to understand school principals' perception of programming education. This study adopted a mixed methods design to explain principals' understanding, expectations, and support for programming education in primary schools using Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). In study 1, survey questionnaires were distributed to all principals from public primary schools in Hong Kong. Two hundred and sixty-six principals responded to the survey (response rate = 55.6%). In study 2, a follow-up interview study with 13 principals was conducted to further explore their perception of programming education. The results of study 1 indicated that principals with a better understanding of programming education tend to have clearer expectations of how to implement programming education in their schools, which consequently leads to greater support for the implementation of programming education. In study 2, the thematic analysis further supported the results obtained in study 1. Specifically, the results of study 2 demonstrated that most principals show understanding, expectation, and support for the implementation of programming education, which in turn results in various positive student and teacher outcomes. The results also showed that challenges are inevitable during implementation, principals show capabilities and willingness to adjust their expectation and support to better integrate programming education into their school curricula. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This preliminary study gathered principals’ and teachers’ views of Hong Kong’s citizenship education as well as the ways it could be facilitated for democratic purposes. On some measures the views of both groups were compared while principals were asked what they did to facilitate democratic citizenship education. The findings revealed principals were more positive than teachers in regard to their schools and citizenship education, and attempted to provide teachers with the autonomy to facilitate civic teaching. Teachers perceived more strongly than principals that the Chinese national government has influenced their schools’ attitude to citizenship education and they showed less confidence than principals in the possibility of nurturing students’ patriotism. Copyright © 2021 AERA21.

In polarized and pluralistic societies, schools are critical for nurturing students towards becoming informed, active citizens. This study of 18 school staff (teachers, principals and vice-principals) at six secondary (high) schools showed three paradigms through which they cultivated students to become good citizens while navigating media influences. School staff in the laissez-faire paradigm were facilitators that emphasized knowledge, social concern, and conservative characteristics of “good citizens.” By contrast, staff in the mediate diversity paradigm inform students and share balancing information from other perspectives. Lastly, staff in the school mission paradigm support student engagement in citizen responsibilities and political processes. All staff reported that media influenced students’ values and perspectives, and sought to reduce students' confirmation bias by fostering their critical thinking skills and media literacy. Understanding how school can nurture citizens can inform instruction and policies. Copyright © 2021 CESHK.

In response to the needs for kindergarten principals to foster teachers' capacities and commitment, this study examined the relationships between professional learning communities, principal leadership practices, and teacher commitment to kindergartens among 2106 teachers from 153 Hong Kong kindergartens, analyzing by using multilevel structural equation modeling. The result showed that principal leadership practices facilitated the development of professional learning communities at school and teacher levels, and exerted a direct effect on teacher commitment at the teacher level. However, the mediating effects of different professional-learning-community components were found distinctive. Implications for leading kindergartens in the reform time are discussed. Copyright © 2021 The Author(s).

校長是一所學校的靈魂，掌握著學校領導和管理權，是學校教育成效高低的關鍵。國際上19世紀末以來的學校管理課程的發展深刻影響著香港中小學校長培訓。香港中小學校長的培訓分為三個階段：擬任校長、新入職校長和在職校長，其培訓課程管理由香港教育局提供理論架構。其培訓特點有：培訓模式靈活多變；社會多方共同培訓校長；甄選大學參與校長培訓；善用公共資源，分擔培訓費用。展望新時代的香港中小學校長培訓，應加強對在職校長的專業支持，強化校長工作考績與個人專業發展的聯系，鼓勵校長持續專業進修，持續加強對香港校長的國史及國民教育。 A principal is the heart and soul of a school. As the leader and manager of a school, a principal is also the key to the effectiveness of school education. The international development of school management courses since the end of the 19th century has a profound impact on the primary and secondary school principal training in Hong Kong. The principal training in Hong Kong is divided into three stages of training: proposed principal training, newly appointed principal training and in-service principal training. The theoretical framework of the training courses is provided by the Hong Kong Education Bureau. The characteristics of the training are as follows: the flexible training mode, training principals by the multi-party society, selecting universities to participate in the principal training, making good use of public resources and sharing training costs. Looking forward to the primary and secondary school principal training in Hong Kong in the new era, the professional support should be provided for in-service principals, the connection between the principal’s work performance and his professional development should be strengthened, principals should be encouraged to continue their professional training, and the national history education and national education should be strengthened for principals in Hong Kong. Copyright © 2020 北京教育學院.

自2001年起，香港特別行政區政府推出一系列大型課程改革，至今已近二十年。現在正是適切時間檢討，以尋找未來的改革方向。校長和教師是重要的持份者，他們同時掌握具體的前線情況，因此了解他們對課程改革現狀及未來發展的看法非常重要。本研究採用聚焦訪談及問卷調查方法，收集了超過1,000名教師和校長的觀感及看法。研究發現，課程改革帶來了教學法、學校自評文化和觀課文化的改變，但未能全面達致改革的大部分目標。改革亦帶來了一系列問題，例如教師工作量增加和學習差異擴闊等。如要為將來尋找更好的發展方向和策略，教育當局必須進行更全面、更有系統及深入的研究，而本研究展示的數據和理據可作這全面檢討的起點。Copyright © 香港中文大學. 香港教育研究所.

This study examined the relationships between leadership practices, professional learning communities, teachers’ efficacy beliefs and perceptions of whole-child development in the context of kindergarten education. A sample of 2120 teachers from 153 Hong Kong kindergartens participated in a questionnaire survey. The results showed that principals’ leadership practices had significant effects on all five professional learning community components. Leadership practices were also positively related to teachers’ perceptions of whole-child development directly and indirectly through the mediation of three professional learning community components, namely a shared sense of purpose, collaborative activities and a collective focus on children’s learning. Moreover, three professional learning community components (i.e. a collective focus on children’s learning, deprivatized practice and reflective dialogue) were positively associated with teachers’ perceptions of whole-child development via their efficacy beliefs. The findings support the mediating role of professional learning communities in developing kindergarten teachers’ collaboration for improving their efficacy beliefs and perceptions of the whole-child development of children. Kindergarten principals play a key role in cultivating a supportive culture and facilitating teacher learning. Copyright © Sage Publications Ltd.