No.119
Issue No.490
23 May, 2005

PTU NEWS
Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union

Fight for the small-class teaching
under the amber rainstorm signal
Report on the rally "Hope for mothers" in the Mother's Day

PTU Reporter

The Mother's Day of 2005 would be an unforgettable memory and meaningful day for the mothers who had participated in the rally of "Fight for Small-Class Teaching to Actualize Quality Education" on May 8, 2005. Mothers were willing to come with their children on this "special day" under the hoist of amber rainstorm signal. Their determination and commitment were to be cherished and commended. Over 5000 people stood out to show their strong will under the banners of various schools fighting for the same goal. The PTU, the Subsidized Primary Schools Council, the Subsidized Primary School Heads Organization, the Primary Heads Organization in eighteen districts of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Special Schools Council would like to express their gratitude for the support of the parents, teachers and students.

Empressment for education, no fear of rainstorm
In fact, no matter it was under the burning sun or the pouring rain, parents had undergone four rallies on different occasions to express their concern and their request for the implementation of small-class teaching. Every time, all participants showed good sense of co-operation with patience and orderliness. On May 8, 2005, apart from the representatives of schools, parents and educational organizations, some LegCo & District Board members attended the gathering to show their support. Some of them assisted in the distribution of carnations to mothers as a token of maternal love for their children with their long-standing expectation to actualize quality education as soon as possible.

In the opening speech, Mr. Cheung Man Kwong, President of the PTU, pointed out that in order to fight for the small-class teaching, parents, teachers and students had already paid out their great effort to look forward to materializing the betterment of education for students. He added that by the time when we looked back some years later, all of us would be proud of our contribution in this campaign. Other speakers shared the same feeling and emphasized that the ultimate goal to fight for the small-class teaching was not for the job security of teachers, but for the improvement of teaching and learning conditions under which quality education could be practically promoted and realized. Some LegCo members criticized those officers of EMB for their irresponsibility and the unjustifiable delay in responding to the demand of the general public.

Participants gathered in the restricted areas for pedestrians at Chater Road and then marched to the Central Government Office. After the handover of a bouquet of carnations and the letter of petition to representative officer for the Deputy Chief Executive, the demonstration came to an end.

Before the rally in the Mother's Day, the PTU had launched a joint signature advertisement in local newspapers in three consecutive dates from May 6 to May 8, 2005, and over 170 schools signed in. The PTU would like to thank all the schools for their endeavour of mobilization and organization to support a series of related actions.

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