The serious lack of trained teachers in English and Information Technology, two of the priority education areas set out by Tung Chee-hwa in his maiden Policy Address last year, does not come as a surprise. Upgrading the skills of a profession which for many years was under-trained and undervalued is a long-term project, not one which can be completed overnight.
Nevertheless, much could be achieved with greater resources. The Chief Executive promised additional provision for training and retraining in both fields, and his commitment is important. But schools cannot release staff for in-service training unless they are allocated additional manpower to fill in. And training new teachers is a slow process. One way to speed up the provision of subject-trained staff would be to attract IT and other specialists from industry or universities by offering them additional incentives to train as teachers.
Whether new subject teachers are trained from within or brought in from outside, the profession will only attract individuals with the skills and dedication a modern school system needs with a boost in status and a commensurate increase in pay. That will require money. Mr Tung should be prepared to dig deep into the SAR's ample pockets when he makes his second address.
