An international school in Hong Kong faced protests on Sunday for alleged poor management, including the hiding of a fire safety issue at one of its new campuses.
A group of about 30 parents and teachers gathered outside the church that manages Christian Alliance International School during its morning Sunday service.
The mob demanded that the current school board members step down after their term ends in August.
They called for a transparent structure to the board and the addition of parent representatives. According to the school’s website, the board is appointed by the church.
They held placards accusing the school of mismanagement and turning a deaf ear to their complaints.
They also handed out copies of a letter to the church’s congregation, stating that the school’s board members hid “a major fire safety issue” from pupils, parents and teachers and “jeopardised the lives of more than 1,000 people from mid-April to now”.
The group left the premises after about an hour.
The South China Morning Post found out from a source that the issue involved a faulty automatic sprinkler system.
However, the source shared that the sprinklers could still be activated manually and the campus’s fire alarms were working. The sprinkler system has since been fixed.
The church’s spokesperson said that they welcomed suggestions and had set up a school council in April comprising staff and parents to give feedback on school operations.
Additionally, the spokesperson defended its selection of board members, saying they “rigorously” selected suitable members as school managers on a volunteer basis – as required by the Education Bureau.
The Bureau said it is aware of the incident and would continue to follow up with the school.
“Schools must ensure the safety of the school environment and comply with relevant laws,” the Bureau said.
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