Job Discussion Forums

[GreenCardigan]

Brickholz,

One question: how is it that you start on salary point 20? The EDB site says that even with a PGDE, the starting salary is HKD24,540, which corresponds with salary point 17. http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=1301&langno=1

Am I missing something?

Perilla, you had me worried there for a while. I had already started calculating how much I could potentially make.

[AngelaVNO]

[Perilla]

[brickholz]

Hey GreenCardigan:

I wish I were starting at Salary Point 20, but I'm at Point 17.

I meant to say that without having a PGDE, you can reach Point 20, but you can't go any further.

So after three years of NETting, I would be at Point 20. No salary increase after that unless I get a PGDE.

Sorry if I made that unclear!

[GreenCardigan]

Brickholz,

You were kind of enough to share some advice via email with me. Now I'll return the favour.

J believe there might be a university or two that allow you to do your PGDE online. Althougth I was always under the impression that you had to complete a practicum component as part of the program, a couple of guys I worked with in Japan must have found universities where they completed a distance degree, because they managed to get a PGDE without leaving Japan.

I believe the school I'm at now, University of Queensland, may be one of them. I'm not entirely sure, though.

You might want to look into that, if you don't want to leave Hong Kong. Of course, there's always the University of Hong Kong.

[Joshua2006]

[ozman]

I have been on holiday and just back in HK this week for the start of the new academic year, so have missed a lot of these posts.

Teachers and civil servants got a pay rise on 1st April this year. All pay rates are transparent and accessible on government sites; teachers payscale is on the EDB site:

http://www.csb.gov.hk/english/admin/pay/42.html

NETS can only go up to Step 33 – currently at $54,665 – see payscale. The housing, retention monthly bonus and other perks are on top of this. For most SNETS (with full qualifications and experience) this will bring the monthly salary up to around $78,000 per month including the special allowance. Steps after Point 33 are promotional positions up to Principal etc. – NETS can’t apply for these. Having been in HK for some length of time, I don’t think I’ve met any SNETS who are NOT qualified teachers. I can’t speak for PNETS.

Regarding “community” of NETS. PNETS have a website / forum for discussion.
NESTA is the organization for all NETS, whether primary or secondary. This has a website with forums, information etc. NESTA organizes a lot of social activities / get-togethers. There are a number of get-togethers this month and next including welcoming for new NETS. Any new NET should seriously consider joining NESTA.
There is SOME access for guests on the NESTA website. If you are a newly appointed NET, you should contact the administrator with your school details to gain full access to the site with your membership.

http://nesta.hk/login.php

[GreenCardigan]

Yes, those details are correct, but that 75,000/month would go to a teacher with years of experience and/or years of experience working for a NET school. That figure, perks and all, would not be the starting salary, even with full qualifications, from what I understand.

[ozman]

yes I indicated that this was Point 33 on the scale - a FULLY QUALIFIED EXPERIENCED TEACHER. Thus a NEW secondary NET with experience in their home country can start as a NET on a basic of $54,665. Check EDB site.

You are correct - the bonus retention is not available until the completion of one full contract - 5% extra and 10% after 2 contracts.
The current special/housing allowance is $16,859 for PNET and SNETS regardless of which point you are on.

This still means an experienced secondary teacher can start at $71,524 per month on their FIRST NET appointment. This is the base pay.

gratuity payments of 15%, baggage, airfares, insurance etc. are the same for all NETS and are on top of the base pay.

check these details at
http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=1301&langno=1

[Veek]

Yes, a new NET can start a point 33 provided they've got at least 16 years of experience (with PGDE) or 18 years (without).

[Perilla]

[Veek]

[ozman]

Veek is right. You are stuck at Point 20 - just over $30,000 per month, while other NETS are getting 45,000+ and 54,000+ at top of primary / secondary respectively with a PGCE. This does not include 16,000+ housing / special allowance. It seems a shame to be stuck on 30,000 when you are doing the same job and working just as hard. Most of those without PGCE however, do tend to be primary NETS. People thinking of applying for a NET job should seriously consider doing a PGCE before they get here, although there are some who complete this while in HK. If you do PGCE here in HK you may not get any recognition for it in your home country when you return (particularly I believe for the primary qualification). While it's always better to do your PGCE in your home country, a local PGCE will at least get you up the salary scale here. I guess it depends on how long you think you will stay here and also what you plan to do AFTER you leave HK.

[bread man]

Hey everyone,

I'm a high school English teacher in Australia. I graduated last year - I have a Bachelor's degree in English Literature/Creative Writing and a Graduate Diploma in Education. I've been substitute teaching in a few different high schools this year, and I did a 3 month contract teaching ESL in the middle of this year. I'll probably do a bit more around the end of the year.

My question is, is this enough to have a decent chance of getting a job as a NET?

It's REALLY hard to find a job in the area I live in, and I'd really like to live overseas for a while. I have a lot of travel experience in SE Asia, and I wouldn't mind working somewhere else, but Hong Kong is my first choice.

[Perilla]