A teachers' federation has backed the appointment of at least one deputy principal in all primary schools as workloads grow because of education reforms.
The Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers this week urged the Education and Manpower Bureau to appoint two deputy principals at primaries with more than 24 classes and one at those with less.
Chairman Wong Kwan-yu said it was 'unfair' that primary schools had fewer resources. He said while secondaries had two deputy principals, primaries had one or none. He said the federation would arrange a meeting with EMB officials soon.
Ho Yun-ling, deputy principal of the HKFEW Wong Cho Bau School, said deputies received only a few hundred dollars more a month compared with an assistant master, or the teacher in the rank below.
She said deputy principals in the primary sector had to teach 22-25 hours per week in addition to administrative work. 'I start working before 7.30am and leave the school at 7 or 8 in the evening.'
Vice-chairman Wu Siu-wai said the incompatibility of pay and workload meant teachers with good qualifications were unwilling to become deputy principals.