2 days Ago By SCMP Editorial
Hunting for overseas talent has been made a top priority by the Hong Kong government. Just as important is to attract and retain those who arrive, as reflected in the review of the appointment terms for native-speaking English teachers (NETs) under a special scheme to enhance the language proficiency of local students. Under the latest recruitment model effective from September, public sector schools will enjoy greater flexibility in the number of teachers hired using a new annual lump sum based on the midpoint salaries of teachers in the existing arrangement.
Their salaries currently range from HK$35,080 to HK$67,850 (US$4,508 to US$8,719) for primary school teachers, and up to HK$81,510 for those at secondary schools. But a cash retention incentive of 5 to 10 per cent of salaries, which was introduced in 2005 to help reduce turnover and payable on a monthly basis to those who have worked for two or more years, will be scrapped. The end-of-contract bonus will also be reduced, from the existing 15 per cent to 10 per cent for the first two agreements, and then rise to 15 per cent.
The Education Bureau said it had decided to merge the incentive and bonus because the attrition rate for teachers had stabilised at below 10 per cent..
