Paul Morris (educator)
Encyclopedia
Paul Morris is an internationally renowned educational scholar – best known for his analysis of education policy in Hong Kong and East Asia. He was President of the Hong Kong Institute of Education
(HKIEd) until July 2007.
(Economics) from the University of Leeds
, MSc
(Sociology of Education) from the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) and DPhil from the University of Sussex
. He taught at the University of Hong Kong from 1976, was Dean of the Faculty of Education there from 1986 until 1992, and became Chair Professor in Curriculum Studies in 1997. He served on the Government Education Commission
from 1988 to 1993. He was Deputy Director (Academic) at the HKIEd from August 2000, and in 2002 became the President. In recognition of his services to education he was presented with the degree of Doctor of Civil Law
(honoris causa) by the University of East Anglia
in 2007. In October 2007 he was appointed as a Professor of Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.
in its own right after it attained self-accrediting
status under his leadership in March 2004. In November 2006 the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Arthur Li
, indicated that Shue Yan College would be made a university title, but that HKIEd would not.
Subsequently, on 25 January 2007, the governing Council of the Institute decided not to extend Morris's tenure as President after the end of his contract, in a vote of 10 to 3 with 3 abstentions. Morris maintained he had been told by the Chairman of the Council, Thomas Leung Kwok-fai, that his tenure would be terminated unless he agreed to the merger of the Institute with the Chinese University of Hong Kong
(CUHK). The Chairman denied Morris' assertion, stressing that Morris had misinterpreted him and that there was no connection between the two. This gave rise to speculation that Arthur Li was trying to force the amalgamation.
On 2 February 2007, 10 external HKIEd Council members held a conference with editors of press to explain their reasons for not reappointing Morris as President. Following the media reports next day, HKIEd Vice President Professor Bernard Luk Hung-kay posted an Intranet letter in response in which he alleged that Morris had been under pressure to merge HKIEd with CUHK and to sack staff who were critical of government policies.
On 15 February 2007 Chief Executive
Donald Tsang
appointed a Commission of Inquiry to "…establish the facts relevant to those allegations made by the Institute’s Academic Vice President…" and further said that "The Commission will ascertain if there has indeed been any improper interference with the Institute’s academic freedom
or institutional autonomy."
The Commission started hearings on 6 March 2007 and issued its report on 20 June 2007http://www.commissionofinquiry.gov.hk/eng/report/report.htm. It concluded, with regard to the specific allegations, that "it was improper for someone of Mrs (Fanny) Law
's position (then Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower), to attempt to silence critics by addressing them personally or through their superiors." [Para 11.48] Also, "it was unacceptable that she did not express her opinions openly and through proper channels, but instead in a manner with the semblance, if not also the substance, of intimidation and reprisal. The Commission disapproves such behaviour unequivocally" [Para 14:25] and "even if well-intentioned (her complaints) were improper and constituted an improper interference with Mr Ip's and Prof. Cheng's academic freedom."
It found that two other allegations, which arose during the course of the Inquiry but were denied by the senior government officials involved, did in fact occur. Firstly, Arthur Li had threatened to ‘rape’ the HKIEd if it failed to merge with CUHK; and secondly, Fanny Law had requested a professor at HKIEd to sack a staff member who was publicly critical of the Government’s reform agenda. The credibility of Arthur Li [Para 8.77] and Fanny Law [para 8.84] as witnesses was questioned by the Commission, whereas Professor Morris was described as a “generally honest” [Para 8.45] and “truthful” [Para 9.31] witness.
On the day the report was published Fanny Law resigned from her post as Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
(ICAC). Arthur Li was not reappointed to the new Government that came into office on 1 July 2007.
Hong Kong Institute of Education
The Hong Kong Institute of Education is one of eight subsidised tertiary institutes under the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong. It is the only one dedicated to teacher education....
(HKIEd) until July 2007.
Career
Morris obtained his BEdBed
A bed is a large piece of furniture used as a place to sleep, relax, or engage in sexual relations.Most modern beds consist of a mattress on a bed frame, with the mattress resting either on a solid base, often wooden slats, or a sprung base...
(Economics) from the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
(Sociology of Education) from the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) and DPhil from the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
. He taught at the University of Hong Kong from 1976, was Dean of the Faculty of Education there from 1986 until 1992, and became Chair Professor in Curriculum Studies in 1997. He served on the Government Education Commission
Education Commission
Since its set up in 1984 as a non-statutory body , the Education Commission of Hong Kong is to advise the HKSAR Government on the overall development of education in the light of the community's needs...
from 1988 to 1993. He was Deputy Director (Academic) at the HKIEd from August 2000, and in 2002 became the President. In recognition of his services to education he was presented with the degree of Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
(honoris causa) by the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
in 2007. In October 2007 he was appointed as a Professor of Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.
Controversy
Morris campaigned to establish the Institute as a universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in its own right after it attained self-accrediting
Accreditation
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...
status under his leadership in March 2004. In November 2006 the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Arthur Li
Arthur Li
Arthur Li Kwok-cheung GBS JP was a member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Secretary for Education and Manpower from August 2002 to June 2007....
, indicated that Shue Yan College would be made a university title, but that HKIEd would not.
Subsequently, on 25 January 2007, the governing Council of the Institute decided not to extend Morris's tenure as President after the end of his contract, in a vote of 10 to 3 with 3 abstentions. Morris maintained he had been told by the Chairman of the Council, Thomas Leung Kwok-fai, that his tenure would be terminated unless he agreed to the merger of the Institute with the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
(CUHK). The Chairman denied Morris' assertion, stressing that Morris had misinterpreted him and that there was no connection between the two. This gave rise to speculation that Arthur Li was trying to force the amalgamation.
On 2 February 2007, 10 external HKIEd Council members held a conference with editors of press to explain their reasons for not reappointing Morris as President. Following the media reports next day, HKIEd Vice President Professor Bernard Luk Hung-kay posted an Intranet letter in response in which he alleged that Morris had been under pressure to merge HKIEd with CUHK and to sack staff who were critical of government policies.
On 15 February 2007 Chief Executive
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
Donald Tsang
Donald Tsang
Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, GBM, KBE is the current Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong....
appointed a Commission of Inquiry to "…establish the facts relevant to those allegations made by the Institute’s Academic Vice President…" and further said that "The Commission will ascertain if there has indeed been any improper interference with the Institute’s academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
or institutional autonomy."
The Commission started hearings on 6 March 2007 and issued its report on 20 June 2007http://www.commissionofinquiry.gov.hk/eng/report/report.htm. It concluded, with regard to the specific allegations, that "it was improper for someone of Mrs (Fanny) Law
Fanny Law
Fanny Law , GBS, JP, was a high-ranking civil servant in Hong Kong. She held the posts of Secretary for Education and Manpower , Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower...
's position (then Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower), to attempt to silence critics by addressing them personally or through their superiors." [Para 11.48] Also, "it was unacceptable that she did not express her opinions openly and through proper channels, but instead in a manner with the semblance, if not also the substance, of intimidation and reprisal. The Commission disapproves such behaviour unequivocally" [Para 14:25] and "even if well-intentioned (her complaints) were improper and constituted an improper interference with Mr Ip's and Prof. Cheng's academic freedom."
It found that two other allegations, which arose during the course of the Inquiry but were denied by the senior government officials involved, did in fact occur. Firstly, Arthur Li had threatened to ‘rape’ the HKIEd if it failed to merge with CUHK; and secondly, Fanny Law had requested a professor at HKIEd to sack a staff member who was publicly critical of the Government’s reform agenda. The credibility of Arthur Li [Para 8.77] and Fanny Law [para 8.84] as witnesses was questioned by the Commission, whereas Professor Morris was described as a “generally honest” [Para 8.45] and “truthful” [Para 9.31] witness.
On the day the report was published Fanny Law resigned from her post as Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong)
The Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong was established by Governor Murray MacLehose on 15 February 1974, when Hong Kong was under British rule. Its main aim was to clean up endemic corruption in the many departments of the Hong Kong Government through law enforcement,...
(ICAC). Arthur Li was not reappointed to the new Government that came into office on 1 July 2007.