THE acute manpower shortage in schools is likely to be eased temporarily next school year when the first batch of candidates holding overseas qualifications pass a new local teacher assessment scheme.
The assessment for non-graduate teacher qualifications, tailored for people holding qualifications outside the British Commonwealth like China and Taiwan, will be held in May, for the first time.
Education Director Dominic Wong Shing-wah said a 16-member advisory committee on the teacher qualification assessment scheme was set up in mid-November.
Chaired by Mr Lucas Chan Kwok-hei, senior assistant director of education, the committee comprised representatives from the Education Department, Hongkong Examinations Authority, universities, colleges of education and primary schools.
They will assess the suitability of applicants, whose academic or professional qualifications are acquired overseas and not recognised in Hongkong under the Education Ordinance.
The first meeting of the committee will be held later this month and details of the assessments will be announced in March.
At least three areas will be tested in the assessment, including professional subject knowledge, language ability and the basic educational understanding.
