Overview

Programme Aims

This programme aims to help in-service primary and secondary school teachers to:

• review different theories on student guidance and discipline;
• understand the common factors contributing to students' behavioural problems;
• understand the roles and responsibilities of teachers in dealing with students' disciplinary problems;
• identify and assess students' behavioural problems;
• develop strategies for handling the major types of students' problems;
• optimise the “Whole School Approach” to guidance and discipline;
• enhance the skills to communicate with parents on handling students’ behavioural problems; and
• collaborate with other stakeholders and social agencies to prevent and combat delinquent behaviour of students.

Programme Structure

The programme comprises the following three core courses of 3 credit points each:

Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency and its Prevention

This course intends to explore how juvenile delinquency has been understood and can be prevented. Participants will be introduced to the nature and different contexts of juvenile delinquency, specifically in the areas of why and how delinquent behaviours occur and how various social agencies, including school and the criminal justice system, have responded to it. In the course, particular emphasis will be put to revisit different social interaction theories in the prevention aspect of juvenile delinquency problems.

Understanding Juvenile Justice System

This course aims to build the participants’ understanding of the Legal System in Hong Kong, in relation to the Criminal Justice System, with a major focus on the Juvenile Justice System. Course participants will be directed from a broad view of Rule of Law to Rule By Law and then to examine about the definition of law and how it is effected upon general public. There will be an introduction of the functions and operations of the court and the punitive system in Hong Kong. The roles and responsibilities of teachers in the related investigation will also be explored.

Prevailing Juvenile Delinquent Problems in Hong Kong

This course aims to introduce a broad understanding of prevailing juvenile delinquent problems in Hong Kong to the course participants. The course content will be focused on the practical aspect of prevention and handling of selected unruly and delinquent behaviours of youngsters in relation to particular youth problems commonly seen in Hong Kong which includes stealing, violence acts, bullying/cyber bullying, cyber addiction, drug addiction and substance abuse, sex-related problems, suicide, etc. The course places emphasis on the analysis on the background, causes and possible solutions for such selected unruly and delinquent behaviours, how the social reaction helps to combat the problems.

Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction is mainly Chinese (Cantonese) and will be supplemented by English where appropriate.

Entrance Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants should be:

• in-service teachers in primary, secondary or special schools, preferably those responsible for student guidance and discipline; and
• recommended by school principals.

Award

To be awarded a Certificate of Completion, participants must obtain a pass in all assessment tasks required and successfully fulfill the attendance requirements as stipulated by the programme.

Other Information

This Government-funded programme is supported by the Education Bureau (EDB). Schools which release teachers to take this programme are eligible for appointing supply teachers, if deemed necessary. Government and aided schools shall contact the EDB for detailed arrangements. Private and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools shall make their own arrangements for the employment of supply teachers.

Participants who complete our PDPs are eligible to apply for credit transfer if they enroll in our postgraduate programmes. Their applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Remarks: Each school can recommend more than one teacher.