Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

1. Policy Statement & Commitment

FIHRI EDUCATION LIMITED (斐瑞教育有限公司, “Fihri”) recognizes that the welfare, physical safety, and emotional well-being of children and young people are paramount. This policy applies to all directors, employees, contracted tutors, mentors, and workshop instructors delivering educational services in homes, online, or on school campuses across Hong Kong.

We are committed to operating in full accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Hong Kong child welfare standards, and Education Bureau guidelines.

2. Tutor & Mentor Screening Standards

Fihri enforces a structured, multi-tier vetting process for all tutors and instructors deployed to work with minors:

• Identity & Right to Work: Verification of Hong Kong Identity Card, permanent residency or valid employment visa permitting tutoring services.
• Academic Credential Verification: Mandatory submission and verification of university degree certificates, academic transcripts, and relevant examination certificates.
• Reference & Experience Checks: Professional background evaluation and reference confirmations from prior educational employers or academic institutions.
• Teaching Demonstration & Pedagogical Assessment: Evaluation of instructional clarity, patience, classroom management, and communication skills prior to assignment.
• Sexual Conviction Record Check (SCRC): Fihri actively implements the Hong Kong Police Force Sexual Conviction Record Check (SCRC) scheme. Prospective mentors engaging in direct contact with children are required to submit to the SCRC protocol or provide equivalent verified criminal record disclosures.

3. In-Home Tutoring Safety Protocols

To ensure transparency and mutual safety during in-home 1-to-1 private tutoring:

• Adult Presence Mandatory: A parent, legal guardian, or designated responsible adult (such as a domestic helper or family relative) must remain on the premises throughout the entire duration of every in-home session. Tutors are instructed not to conduct sessions if a minor is left entirely unattended in a private residence.
• Visible Study Environment: Tutoring sessions must take place in an open or visible area (e.g. study room with open doors, dining area) rather than completely isolated behind closed, locked doors.
• Professional Boundaries: Physical contact between tutors and students is strictly prohibited, except for customary social greetings.

4. Digital & Online Classroom Safeguarding

For distance learning and online tutoring sessions:

• Sessions are conducted via approved, secure video conferencing platforms with end-to-end encryption.
• Parents are provided access to review lesson links and join video calls at any point during instruction.
• Tutors and mentors are prohibited from engaging in private, unrecorded social media interactions, instant messaging chats, or informal digital relationships with minor students outside designated academic channels involving parents.

5. School On-Campus Workshop Standards

When delivering school-based STEM, robotics, and AI programmes:

• All Fihri workshop trainers comply strictly with the visitor policies, health protocols, and child protection regulations of the host school.
• Trainers deliver instruction in institutional computer laboratories or classrooms with the presence or active oversight of school teachers, STEM panel coordinators, or school technical staff.
• Trainers may not administer physical punishment or verbal reprimands; student behavioral concerns are referred immediately to the school's supervising teacher.

6. Incident Reporting & Designated Safeguarding Lead

Any suspicion, allegation, or disclosure of child abuse, harassment, neglect, or unprofessional conduct must be reported immediately to our Designated Safeguarding Officer:

All concerns are logged confidentially, investigated within 24 hours, and escalated to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) or the Hong Kong Police Force where mandated by law.

7. Ongoing Review & Compliance Accountability

This Safeguarding Policy is reviewed annually and updated to align with evolving statutory requirements, Social Welfare Department guidelines, and best practices in educational safety.