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Partnership for Development of School Leadership
and School Improvement
Louisa Y.S. Cheung
by Ms.

Professional Consultant (Honorary)
Centre for University and School Partnership
Partnership for Development of School Leadership
and School Improvement The Centre for University and School Partnership and that principals and senior teachers are likely
(CUSP) under the Faculty of Education was under-prepared for their roles. In view of the needs
Louisa Y.S. Cheung is now well into its seventeenth year. To echo the for Curriculum Leaders for Quality Pre-primary
by Ms. established in the academic year 1998-1999. It of the sector, we launched a project “Development
Education” in 2014. The project aimed at enabling,
mission of the Faculty, the CUSP provides professional
Professional Consultant (Honorary) support to the school community, in the form of enriching and empowering curriculum leaders in pre-
Centre for University and School Partnership partnership to promote quality education. To realize primary schools to facilitate quality education with a
set of leadership practices as defined by Leithwood.
its mission, the CUSP has tapped into, and benefited
enormously from, the wisdom and expert support
of scholars in the Faculty of Education and other Leithwood’s (2005) basic categories of leadership
academic units of the CUHK. Since its founding, practices: (1) Setting direction (2) Developing people
Leadership in the Reform Era the CUSP has supported sound and comprehensive (3) Redesigning the organization (4) Improving
school improvement initiatives through research
instructional program were adapted as the framework
Paula Y.K. Kwan most projects includes the development of school
by Professor and developmental projects. The vital support in of the Project.
leadership for sustainable school improvement.
Associate Professor, Department of Educational Administration
43 According to Kenneth Leithwood (2003), effective 44
and Policy
leadership makes a difference in improving student
learning. The Scottish Executive (2004) in their
agenda for Action said “Good leadership is critical to
a successful school. Success comes from aiming high
Quality School Improvement Project - Aspiration for with the clear vision, ethos and communication.”
Quality Education and School Improvement Leithwood (2008) has also noted that “leadership
Tong Choi Wai capacities that already exist in our organizations.
by Dr. serves as a catalyst for unleashing the potential

Project Director, Quality School Improvement Project Building teacher capacity is critical to raising student
achievement, and principals are well positioned to
Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research do this work because of their roles.” However, the
Report of the Hong Kong Pre-primary Schools Quality
Review (2007-2012) showed that of 756 pre-primary
institutions reviewed, about half of the schools were
advised to take more consideration and improvement
in curriculum management (coordination and
monitoring). Approximately 60% of the schools
were deemed as weakest in self-evaluation. About
40% of the reviewed schools were advised to seek
improvement in arranging a comprehensive and
balanced curriculum to foster children’s holistic
development. The above shortfalls show that
leadership development for the Early Childhood
Education sector (ECE) in Hong Kong is inadequate