Backing for retiring
Legislators have called for schools to have flexibility in how they operate a $520 million early-retirement scheme for secondary teachers.
The government is planning to launch the scheme in August. It won broad support at Legco's education panel this week.
All secondary teachers under 60 working in aided schools with more than 10 years' service will be eligible within an annual EMB quota.
Schools will be required to draw up plans of their staffing needs and work out their own criteria for approving teacher applications. When the number of eligible teachers exceeds the quota, the EMB will grant applications according to a set or priorities.
Cheung Man-kwong, president of the Professional Teachers' Union and legislator for the education constituency, said: 'Any measure which will allow schools to stabilise their manpower situation would be welcomed. I think schools will make use of any flexibility in terms of who should stay and who should go.'
