Job uncertainty gnaws at Hong Kong’s contract teachers in public schools and causes low morale, union survey finds
Almost two in 10 teachers at the city’s government and aided schools are on short-term contracts, and this affects their ability to nurture pupils
At least 17 per cent of educators at Hong Kong’s 844 public primary and secondary schools are on annual contracts earning less than permanent staff even when they have similar qualifications, and this is affecting both their morale and their ability to nurture pupils, the Professional Teachers’ Union has found.
The lack of job security has led to 31 per cent of teachers and close to half of teaching assistants surveyed saying they had considered leaving the education industry.
The PTU canvassed 2,046 educators on short-term contracts at government and aided schools in the city, in roles ranging from teacher to teaching assistant.
For contract teachers, the PTU found almost half across the different roles are under 30 years old while more than one in three holds a master’s degree or a higher qualification. About one in 10 took home less pay than their peers with permanent jobs.
During my first two years, I was worried and I would try to do more to differentiate myself and prove my worth
PTU vice-president Ip Kin-yuen said: “Almost half of the surveyed contract teachers transferred from one school to another within a two-year time frame. Not only could they not take care of the students for long but they also did not have the opportunity to gain experience.”