Lawmakers propose preventing dismissed teachers from returning to public schools

Lawmakers have raised questions regarding the proposal to prevent dismissed teachers from reentering public schools, according the Third Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly (AL).
Yesterday, the committee held another reading of law No.67/99/M, which specifically concerns teachers at non-tertiary public schools.
The meeting primarily focused on four articles: teachers’ assessment systems, teachers’ sick leave, teachers’ reasonable absences, and dismissed teachers’ reentry to schools.
One of the amended articles proposes that teachers at public schools, once dismissed, will no longer be able to take up or apply for teaching positions in public schools. Under Macau’s civil servant protocol, a dismissed civil servant is entitled to reenter public service.
Regarding this article, some of the committee members asked if dismissed teachers are allowed to teach in private schools.
Vong Hin Fai, the chairman of the Third Standing Committee and the lawmaker who asked the question, voiced concern that when a dismissed teacher’s misconduct was severe, allowing this teacher to work in a private school will show that the mistake may “not be that serious.”

Committee suggests evaluation system amendment
In addition to this, the law proposes regarding more types of leave as reasonable, except for being absent for blood donation, academic and language training, sponsored training, and participation in trade union activities.
The amendment also proposes a teacher’s evaluation system. “Regarding the method of evaluating the teachers’ work, the law proposes to establish administrative regulation,” said Vong, who also remarked that members of the committee worry about the punctuality of administrative regulation.
“The committee is concerned about the timetable regarding the administrative regulation. It seems that it will not sync with this law amendment. Since 2004, when law No.8/2004 was amended proposing auxiliary regulations for the establishment of an evaluation system, until now, there is still not an evaluation system,” Vong remarked.
The final proposal of the law amendment was a work compensation method for teachers to make up for missed working hours due to sick leave taken in and outside of Macau.
Lawmakers want the government to explain how teachers can compensate the missed working hours.
Regarding all abovementioned topics, government representatives will be invited to join another AL Third Standing Committee meeting to reply to the questions.