Turnover rate of Hong Kong’s native English-speaking teachers hits decade low after end of Covid curbs
- Attrition rate for NETs fell to 9 per cent in primary schools and 7 per cent in secondary institutions, the lowest since data became available in 2013-14
- Figures contrast with spike in 2021-22, which was largely attributed to impact of strict travel restrictions and quarantine requirements during pandemic
“The attrition rate has decreased significantly in the 2022-23 school year. Overall, there is no shortage of NETs at this stage,” the bureau said in a reply to the legislature.
The primary school rate was the same as in 2015-16. The figure for secondary schools was the lowest since 2013-14.
The turnover rate refers to the percentage of teachers who opted to leave the NET scheme for reasons other than retirement out of the total number of such educators who completed their contracts during the school year.
Currently, about 800 NETs are employed under the official scheme, which has been in place since 1998 and provides one position in every school.
Bringing in mainland Chinese pupils ‘not an option’ for Hong Kong public schools
Under the scheme, in addition to the basic salary, NETs are entitled to various fringe benefits, including a special allowance of HK$20,989 (US$2,678) per month, a medical allowance, gratuities and retention incentives.
“The remuneration package is able to attract NETs to join and encourage them to remain in the profession, which is considered very attractive,” the bureau added.
NETs have a starting pay of HK$34,040, rising to a maximum of HK$79,135 for those teaching in secondary schools and HK$65,875 for those in primary institutions. The starting and maximum points are reviewed annually.
The number of non-local students in international schools also increased in the last academic year following the lifting of all travel restrictions early in 2023.
According to bureau statistics, 27,390 non-local pupils are currently studying at 53 international schools, up from 26,768 in 2022-23, which was the lowest on record.
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But their proportion among all pupils in those schools has continued to shrink in recent years, from 74.1 per cent in 2019-20 to 65.1 per cent in the current school year, a record low.
The figures show the international school sector has been admitting more local pupils in the past five academic years, from about 10,600 to 14,700, an increase of nearly 40 per cent.
The bureau said that as of February, 56,121 children under the age of 18 had been permitted to come to the city as dependents under various talent admission schemes in 2023-24.
But authorities said they did not have the statistics on the number of such children studying in the city as schools did not need to report to the government to admit them.
So Ping-fai, head of Tin Shui Wai Methodist Primary School and chairman of the Subsidised Primary Schools Council, said most NETs had quit because of the strict travel restrictions and were eager to return to their hometowns two years ago.
His school hired seven NETs, including one under the official scheme, and all had left within two years during Covid-19.
He said the situation had improved last year and more candidates could be picked during recruitment after all travel restrictions were lifted.
Polly Chan Suk-yee, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association, said the number of applications for NET positions under the official scheme rose last year. Chan, a primary school principal, said she had been invited to sit on the recruitment panel.
Apart from the lifting of all travel restrictions last year, social stability had also attracted the teachers to the city, she said.
