Thirty-three-year-old teacher Chan Lik-tan committed suicide on Friday after being unemployed for the past two years.
Chan was pursuing masters degrees from the Chinese University, the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, but was only able to secure short-term teaching contracts since his graduation.
The inability to find a permanent position dealt Chan an emotional blow, according to his family. He committed suicide on Friday at his home in Tseung Kwan O after leaving behind a will, reports Ming Pao.
Chan’s mother discovered her son in his room, sitting in a chair with a plastic bag over his head. He was pronounced dead by medical personnel on the scene, who believe he killed himself my inhaling helium.
Chan’s death sparked a sit-in by the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (HKPTU) outside the Central Government Office in Admiralty last night, reports HKFP.
The union demanded to meet with Education Secretary Eddie Ng to discuss the contract teachers system. They say government education reforms have increased teachers’ workload and not improved support, forcing schools to rely on short-term staff.
They claim Chan’s death highlights a troubling situation in Hong Kong’s education system, with declining student numbers and potential mass lay-offs just some of the issues facing educators.
A HKPTU press conference last week raised the concerns of the union, including the fact that many contract teachers have to switch schools during their terms, and an overwhelming majority work on one-year contracts despite many holding masters degrees, reports Ming Pao.
Photo: HKPTU
