Global search for native English-speaking teachers

The Education Department has launched a global exercise to recruit native English-speaking teachers (NETs) on a two-year contract beginning in mid-August next year.

Under the scheme, around 200 teachers will be recruited to teach local students and assist in teacher and curriculum development in primary schools (equivalent to US grades 1 - 6), secondary schools (equivalent to US grades 7 - 12) and schools for students with special educational needs.

"To achieve this, we have established a designated page on the Education Department website from which overseas applicants can download the application form," a spokesman for the department said today (October 22).

This will be supplemented by advertising campaigns in Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom. The overseas campaigns will be co-ordinated by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the various countries.

The Native English-speaking Teacher Scheme was launched in all public sector secondary schools in the 1998/99 school year and was extended to public sector primary schools this year.

Earlier this month, the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, said that if Hong Kong wants to be a truly cosmopolitan city, people must master English because it is the language of commerce, science, medicine and many other disciplines.

"About a quarter of the world's population communicate entirely in English," he said. "So we feel that it is our responsibility as a government to support English language education in Hong Kong."

At the beginning of the current school year, some 630 NETs were serving in local primary and secondary schools. The majority of them (262) came from Australia, followed by the United Kingdom (132) and Canada (114).

"We are pleased to note that more and more prospective native English-speaking teachers are interested in teaching in Hong Kong," the spokesman said.

"For example, last year we received over 1,300 applications for positions in the Secondary NET Scheme, more than double those of the previous year. For the Primary NET Scheme, we received more than 1,800 applications."

Candidates who wish to apply for the NET posts must be native English speakers or possess native-speaker English competence. Other qualifications are:

For secondary schools

(i) a bachelor's degree, preferably majoring in English Language or English Literature or English Studies or a Modern Language; and

(ii) a Post-graduate Certificate in Education or equivalent; and

(iii) a Teaching of English as a Foreign Language or a Second Language (TEFL/TESL) qualification at diploma level; and

(iv) at least one year's experience in teaching English at secondary level or above.

For primary schools

(i) a bachelor's degree, preferably majoring in English Language or English Literature or English Studies or a Modern Language; and/or

(ii) a recognised teacher training qualification, preferably in Primary Education or TEFL/TESL; and

(iii) preferably experience in TESL/TEFL at primary school level.

For appointment in special schools, preference will be given to candidates who have special education training and/or experience in teaching students with special educational needs.

All native English-speaking teachers will be employed on a two-year contract, subject to renewal after expiry.

Salaries range from HK$205,200 to HK$557,820 per year for secondary NET posts, and from HK$205,200 to HK$464,340 per year for primary NET posts.

A special allowance of HK$13,000 per month, free passages, baggage and medical allowances will be provided for NETs whose normal place of residence is outside Hong Kong. NETs will also receive a gratuity of 15 per cent of the total basic salary on satisfactory completion of the contract.

More information and a standard application form are available on the Education Department website (http://www.info.gov.hk/ed). The deadline for applications is November 29, 2002.

Enquiries can be directed to the department's Placement & Support Section -- Room 3208A, 32nd floor, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong: Telephone no: (852) 2126 5296 or (852) 2126 5207 or (852) 2126 5297

Fax no: (852) 2123 1239 or (852) 2116 0531

E-mail: psunit@ed.gcn.gov.hk

End/Tuesday, October 22, 2002