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William Yiu

The turnover rate of native English-speaking teachers (NETs) in Hong Kong schools reached a record high in the last academic year.
The attrition rate rose in primary schools from 11 per cent in 2021-22 to 18 per cent last year, and in secondary schools from 13 per cent to 16 per cent.
But education authorities described the situation as “largely stable” and lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung, a school principal, said there were no hiring difficulties despite the departures.
Education Bureau figures showed 828 teachers were employed under its NET scheme and teaching in primary and secondary schools as of February, down from 852 in February last year.

These teachers, both expatriates and Hongkongers, are designated as NETs for their qualifications and ability to teach English.
The turnover rate refers to the percentage of NETs who opted to leave the scheme for reasons other than retirement out of the total number of such teachers who completed their contracts during the school year.
A bureau spokeswoman said there were various reasons for NETs leaving the service.
“They may include retirement, family reunion and the wish to work or live in other countries. The decision of NETs to take up teaching posts in Hong Kong or not is a personal consideration,” she said.
3,500 Hong Kong teachers quit, cashing out HK$10 billion from provident fund
The department statistics showed that their attrition rates were “largely stable”, she said.
She added that the bureau would exercise discretion in allowing NETs who reached the retirement age of 60 to continue working, and it would also employ temporary NETs to fill vacancies.
The NET scheme, in place since 1998, provides one position in every school.
These teachers are generally paid better than others and expatriates receive more in allowances and bonuses when they renew their contracts.
Hong Kong teachers migrate, leaving special needs kids struggling with new hires
NETs have a starting pay of HK$32,545 (US$4,145) rising to a maximum of HK$62,950 for those teaching in primary schools and HK$75,620 for those in secondary schools. The starting and maximum points are reviewed annually.
Those employed on expatriate terms receive a special allowance of about HK$21,000 per month.
At the end of every two-year contract, those who have performed satisfactorily receive a gratuity equivalent to 15 per cent of their base salary.
Those who start their second contract without a break in service may receive an incentive bonus equivalent to 5 per cent of their base annual salary. This bonus could be 10 per cent of their base salary in their third or subsequent contract.
‘Hong Kong teachers can still mention political events with sufficient knowledge’
Linda Harris*, a NET in a secondary school, told the Post that Hong Kong’s “marks-oriented” education system left many of her peers feeling frustrated, and she had been pondering whether to stay after completing the second year of her contract this year.
“There is a mismatch between the teaching environment and the style that Western teachers or NET teachers are used to in their own countries,” she said.
She said most schools focused on rote learning, memorisation, spoon-feeding and textbook teaching.
“There is little room for creativity or critical thinking and this is stifling and demoralising as NETs are used to a more modern research-based style of teaching in the West,” she said.
Hong Kong to train more teachers, boost intake to lucrative diploma
Another frustration was the disrespect for NETs in schools where staff meetings were conducted in Chinese and even some documents and the student discipline systems were also only in Chinese.
Harris said her school used English as the medium of instruction, but she felt left out during staff meetings.
“It is quite frustrating to sit through ‘Chinese-only meetings’ for hours and hours and you kind of feel excluded to the point that you feel isolated and unsupported at times,” she said.
She said her NET friends who quit had gone to teach in the Middle East, Singapore, Vietnam or Thailand, which offered similar packages to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong principals ask government to plug teaching brain drain
Lawmaker Chu, who represents the education constituency, said he heard that some NETs quit Hong Kong last year as they did not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and they were against the mask mandate.
But Chu, who was hiring a temporary NET for his primary school, was not concerned that schools would find it difficult to replace those who had left.
“Their pay package in Hong Kong is extremely good, and schools are not worried that they won’t be able to hire NETs,” he said.
* Name changed at interviewee’s request.


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Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong schools lose native English-speaking teachers as attrition rates spike, but Education Bureau not worried

Native English-speaking teachers are leaving Hong Kong, but the Education Bureau is not worried. Photo: Shutterstock

There are fewer native English teachers at Hong Kong public schools than there were last year. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong schools lose 3,500 teachers in one year, and provident fund pays out a record HK$10 billion

The total amount withdrawn hit a record of HK$10.2 billion last year, up HK$6.8 billion from the year before. Photo: Elson Li

Family, relatives and friends bid farewell to their loved ones at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Dickson Lee

Schools are finding it hard to recruit new teachers in the wake of the mass resignations. Photo: Jelly Tse

As Hong Kong teachers join migration wave, children with special education needs struggle to relate to new hires

The immigration wave has impacted the lives of special education needs pupils who have lost experienced teachers they trusted. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Students with autism often struggle to warm up to new teachers. Photo: Shutterstock

News

Hong Kong

Education

Just 828 teachers left in scheme, which comes with better pay, fringe benefits for expatriates
While they are leaving for different reasons, one teacher points to frustration and schools’ ‘Chinese-only’ meetings


Just 828 teachers left in scheme, which comes with better pay, fringe benefits for expatriates.


Hong Kong schools lose native English-speaking teachers as attrition rates spike, but Education Bureau not worried

Just 828 teachers left in scheme, which comes with better pay, fringe benefits for expatriates While they are leaving for different reasons, one teacher points to frustration and schools’ ‘Chinese-only’ meetings

Just 828 teachers left in scheme, which comes with better pay, fringe benefits for expatriates

While they are leaving for different reasons, one teacher points to frustration and schools’ ‘Chinese-only’ meetings