Teacher's Suicide Could Have Been Avoided: Coroner

The coroner's court ruled on Friday a primary school teacher who fell from height at her Tin Shui Wai school in March 2019 committed suicide, and that a meeting with the principal the day before "pushed her over the edge".

The coroner said the tragedy involving 48-year-old Lam Lai-tong could have been avoided.

During the nine-day inquest, teachers at Leo Tung-hai Lee Primary School had testified that principal Law Yuen-yee was efficient but had problems communicating with her staff and did not show them respect.

The court heard that the principal often called Lam into her office and scolded her, with the teacher often leaving in tears.

The teacher's death was triggered by an incident in which she failed to issue a notice to parents about an exchange trip to Macau.

The court heard that Law accused the teacher of taking students on the trip without her permission, and told Lam she'd better resign on her own.

After submitting a report about what happened, Lam was again called into the principal's office on March 5.

The teacher, who had suffered from depression, collapsed on the floor in tears after the 40-minute meeting, saying, "This time, I will perish with her".

Lam then reported the incident to the Tung Wah Group, which operates the school.

A staff member at Tung Wah Group notified the principal of the complaint.

The teacher fell to her death at the school at about 7am the next day.

"If Law had focused on the incident, not the person, and had not met Lam again on March 5... If she had withdrawn her demand for Lam to resign herself, this tragedy would not have happened," coroner Monica Chow said.

Chow also said Lam's death could have been prevented if the Tung Wah Group staff had kept her complaint a secret.

The principal is no longer with the school.

Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Lam's sister tearfully thanked the court for serving justice.

She also said the principal was still trying to shirk responsibility when it is clear who should be held responsible.

Law, for her part, said what the coroner's said was "some distance from the truth", without elaborating.

The Professional Teachers' Union said the family will consider whether they will lodge civil claims over Lam's death.

It also hopes the education sector can learn from the case. The union's president, Fung Wai-wah, said they would press education authorities to take measures to prevent workplace bullying in accordance with the coroner's suggestions.

"They have to build up mutual respect among the team, especially between principals and teachers, so the principals can treat colleagues with respect," he said.

Fung also said he agrees with the coroner's suggestions that staff complaints should be kept confidential.

"We have suggested to try to keep the complainants anonymous, and to keep it confidential. Unless they have the agreement from the complainant, they should not allow those principals or those being complained to know about the names of the complainants," he said.

The Tung Wah Group said it will study ways to implement the coroner's recommendations and work towards enhancing and improving the governance of its schools.