Negotiations between the Education Bureau and native-English-speaking teachers over an increase in their special allowance have been held up because of staff changes, the bureau said this week.
David Stead, chairman of Native English-speaking Teachers' Association (Nesta), said the recent financial turmoil and rent increases had put them under a lot of financial pressure.
'The situation is worse now,' he said. 'Some NETs who were living in Central and the Mid-Levels have been priced out.'
More than 470 out of 922 NETs working in local schools have signed a petition for more special allowance.
Teachers receive HK$12,950 to help cover rental expenses. Nesta wanted the allowance to be increased by up to 30 per cent, which would take it to about HK$17,000.
'Because of the change of personnel on the bureau's part, we had to brief the new person on the details,' Mr Stead said. 'The process has been held up a bit.'