Job Discussion Forums

[rayman]

I currently teach primary at an international school in SE Asia and have been considering the move over to the PNET scheme.

I've heard some reports from current NETs of high workloads. This factor wouldn't necessarily bother me, providing the holidays were similar to those given to school teachers in their home country or at international schools. This usually amounts to around 13 weeks/year + public holidays.

So, does the PNET scheme guarantee a similar length of holidays?

Thanks

[anninhk]

It is all part of the lottery of being a PNET!
Some schools are very 'generous' with their holidays - others not so.
Personally I get the holidays the children get. This year I didn't start work until 1st September, although I did have to return about a week earlier to attend the first meetings of the year. I get from 22nd Dec to 4th Jan for Christmas and then nearly 2 weeks at Chinese New Year. Easter is about the same length as Christmas and then we break up for our long holiday around 14th July. Some people can't leave for another week because of meetings. I also get all the public holidays and am sometimes exempt from PD days.
As I said though it all depends on your school and you can be asked to do courses and things in the holiday period.

[briandwest]

The only "guaranteed" holiday are public holidays and 4 weeks in the summer.
I am like ann and get the same as the Ss but have to report back to school in the middle of August for a couple of English Staff meetings.
Not sure about 13 weeks though. I've just counted mine up and it is:
Christmas, Easter and CNY 1.5 weeks each
Summer 7 weeks
Total 11.5 weeks

[briandwest]

I forgot to add you'll probably also have 3 weeks of exams that usually mean no teaching.
Schools also start to wind down for summer early and it's quite likely that you won't do any major teaching for the last 4 weeks of the summer semester.
Sounds great, but "desk-leave" soon becomes very boring indeed!

PS Whenever I think I have a particularly difficult week or think I have a heavy workload I remember the local HK teachers working 12 hour days, working every Saturday, coming into school during the holidays and attending endless meetings....

[rayman]

Thanks all for your reply. So it sounds as though it's a bit of a gamble. But some holidays are at least guaranteed. That said, I think I'll still go ahead and spin the PNET dice in the future.

Cheers

[rayman]

One more question on my mind. How easy or common is it to for NET teachers to move over to an international school? I mean, when their first contract is finished.

Is the incentive there, in terms of better pay and conditions at the Hong Kong international schools?

[Smoog]

I got/get 11 days for Xmas, 12 for CNY, 17 for Easter and sort of 6 weeks for Summer.
I mean sort of because this year I came back to school the week before it opened. I wasn't asked to but I knew the local teachers had to report back then and I didn't want them to think I was special. Plus I'd do that anyway when I was back in NZ - I do like showing a facade of professionalism after all.

So about 12 weeks in total. Plus the other stat hols throughout the year.
Exam week is coming up and that's 1/2 day. Nothing for me to do during that week but unfortunately teachers aren't allowed to leave early. So I'll be used to my full potential, warming a computer room seat the entire week, 8am to 4pm.


As for moving over to International/ESF - from what I've heard it's not too difficult. I've heard some schools look down on NET experience, but it would seem logical to want to hire someone who is already settled here and has experience teaching the locals than throw the dice on getting someone from overseas sight unseen.
Then again, logical thinking doesn't appear to be highly prized in the HK educational sector.

A fellow PNET I know with less quals and less teaching exp than me was offered and took up a job at an ESF school this year - at $12k/month more than I'm getting. Add in the higher gratuity and it's close to $18k a month! And his gratuity gets paid yearly.

[Smoog]

[poof]

To briandwest and anni,

How has the last semester compared to previous years in terms of:
1) the pledge to give each teacher only 1 school
2) the reduction in Saturday work requirements

Thanks for your answers.

[briandwest]

My situation hasn't changed this semester as my whole-day school moved to 1 NET / 1 school in Sep 2005 and doesn't officially open on Saturday's other than for sports, meetings and occasional events like P6 mock interviews. The NET only attends the latter of these.
No change for local teachers either - they are at school most Saturday's.

[anninhk]

My situation hasn't changed either even though I am now only in one school.
I have never had to work Saturdays because both my schools were all day schools.
As Brian said local teachers have to work even though I don't have to.