Nov 23, 2010
MOE revokes scholarship
By Jane Ng
THE Education Ministry has revoked the teaching scholarship of the University of York undergraduate Jonathan Wong who has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in Britain.
It will also tighten its processes so that schools must provide information on specific behavioural problems which may affect their selection as teachers.
In the case of Jonathan Wong who was awarded the Teaching Scholarship (Overseas) in 2006, MOE said it had reviewed his academic and CCA records, as well as testimonials written by teachers from Chinese High and Hwa Chong Junior College but was not aware of his past behavioural problems.
'The teachers did not include in his testimonials the fact that he was publicly caned as a student in 2002 for peeping in a lady's toilet as they thought that he had overcome this errant behaviour after professional help,' said an MOE spokesman.
MOE said in a statement on Tuesday that it decided to revoke the scholarship as Jonathan has 'committed serious criminal offences, and pleaded guilty to the charges against him'. 'MOE expects our teaching scholars to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the standards of the teaching profession, and will take the necessary actions against those who have behaved inappropriately,' said the spokesman.
Wong, 23, a third-year history undergraduate, was caught with 50 videos of child pornography on his computer hard disk after the police raided his room in March. Some of the videos were graphic, had audio, or lasted more than an hour, and featured girls as young as six. Of the videos, 25 were rated four out of five on a scale used to measure the severity of pornography.
He is now out on bail and will be sentenced by the York Crown Court on Dec 13. He faces up to five years in jail.
[The peeping incident could have been a once-off youthful indiscretion and mistake, and I think the teachers or people giving him their recommendation did nothing wrong in wanting to believe that he had been rehabilitated. However, MOE is right to revoke the scholarship and presumably should not allow him near children especially in a position as a teacher. ]
MOE revokes scholarship
By Jane Ng
THE Education Ministry has revoked the teaching scholarship of the University of York undergraduate Jonathan Wong who has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in Britain.
It will also tighten its processes so that schools must provide information on specific behavioural problems which may affect their selection as teachers.
In the case of Jonathan Wong who was awarded the Teaching Scholarship (Overseas) in 2006, MOE said it had reviewed his academic and CCA records, as well as testimonials written by teachers from Chinese High and Hwa Chong Junior College but was not aware of his past behavioural problems.
'The teachers did not include in his testimonials the fact that he was publicly caned as a student in 2002 for peeping in a lady's toilet as they thought that he had overcome this errant behaviour after professional help,' said an MOE spokesman.
MOE said in a statement on Tuesday that it decided to revoke the scholarship as Jonathan has 'committed serious criminal offences, and pleaded guilty to the charges against him'. 'MOE expects our teaching scholars to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the standards of the teaching profession, and will take the necessary actions against those who have behaved inappropriately,' said the spokesman.
Wong, 23, a third-year history undergraduate, was caught with 50 videos of child pornography on his computer hard disk after the police raided his room in March. Some of the videos were graphic, had audio, or lasted more than an hour, and featured girls as young as six. Of the videos, 25 were rated four out of five on a scale used to measure the severity of pornography.
He is now out on bail and will be sentenced by the York Crown Court on Dec 13. He faces up to five years in jail.
[The peeping incident could have been a once-off youthful indiscretion and mistake, and I think the teachers or people giving him their recommendation did nothing wrong in wanting to believe that he had been rehabilitated. However, MOE is right to revoke the scholarship and presumably should not allow him near children especially in a position as a teacher. ]
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