Morale in the English Schools Foundation (ESF) has hit a new low following a decision this week to cut its teachers' pay by up to 10 per cent.
Teachers' representative David Reeves said there was 'a lot of discontent' over both the cut and other 'certain management decisions'.
Mr Reeves, chairman of the ESF staff association said there was 'a huge debate going on' but that teachers had yet to decide how to respond. Earlier in the week the ESF's executive committee approved the cut after a pay review body found that salaries were at the high-end of the scale compared with those paid by other schools in Hong Kong.
The reductions will be phased in as contracts are renewed and a 2004 salaries scale will be introduced from January 1.
Pay for new staff will be based on market rates, with a maximum of 10 per cent reduction on the current scale. Existing staff - both teachers and senior administrators - face a cut of 4.42 per cent when they renew their contracts, and up to 3 per cent on each subsequent contract until their salaries converge with those employed on the 2004 scale.
John Shanahan, ESF vice-chairman, appealed to staff to accept the cut.
'We wish to seek the understanding of colleagues to accept the reality of their comparative remuneration levels in the face of the difficulties confronting the foundation as it seeks to make the best use of its resources,' he wrote in a letter to them.