Degree proposed for private school board chairs, two-term cap

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification may soon become mandatory for anyone seeking to become the chair of the managing committee of a private educational institution. Under a draft proposal prepared recently, the same person would be allowed to serve as chair for a maximum of two terms. However, they could return to the same institution after serving a one-term gap.

The proposals are still under review, and the provisions may be amended, added to, or removed before they are finalised. According to the draft rules, a person must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university to be nominated as chair of a managing committee. Anyone without such a qualification would be ineligible for the position.

The draft also seeks to limit the tenure of a chairperson. The same person would be allowed to serve as chair of a managing committee no more than twice, whether consecutively or at different times. The proposed restrictions are intended to prevent the same individual from holding the chairperson’s position at an institution for an extended period.

The draft further states that a teacher cannot be elected chair of the managing committee of the private educational institution where they are employed. However, they would be eligible to serve as chair of a managing committee at another private educational institution of the same or a lower level.

A person would also be barred from serving as chair of managing committees at more than two private educational institutions of the same type and more than three private educational institutions of any type.

The draft rules also propose restrictions on consecutive terms for other managing committee positions. A person would not be allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms as chair, teacher representative or guardian representative of the same private educational institution. However, after a one-term break, the person could contest the relevant position again.

How chairperson candidates would be nominated

The draft proposes a new process for recommending candidates for the chairperson’s position. The head of the educational institution, in consultation with the divisional commissioner or deputy commissioner, where applicable, would send the education board the names and full CVs of three candidates.

The candidates could be selected from among local elected representatives, serving or retired officials or employees of government, semi-government or autonomous institutions, founding members, education-minded individuals and prominent local social workers.

The draft specifies that the order in which the three names are listed would not be treated as an order of preference for nomination. The proposals are currently at the draft stage and are expected to be finalised after further review and possible revisions.