Job Discussion Forums

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

If one wanted to live in Hong Kong long term what is the best bet? Would teaching as a PNET for 10-20 years be possible. I would like to find a job where the pay increases just like back home. I don't want to work somewhere where the pay will stay the same for the next five years.

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

under the PNET (and SNET) you go up a step in the pay scale each year.
In both you start on step 12 of the Master Pay Scale (the scale all HK govt employees are on).
In PNET you can move up to step 29, SNET step 33.
Teaching dip + degree starts you on step 14 (whoooo....2 whole steps for at least 4 years worth of Tertiary and post-tertiary study).
From there, it's one step p/year up to the maximum - which is 15 years teaching experience for PNET.
Basically, 1 step = $1000HK /month at the bottom of the scale and increases up to ~$1500 /month at the top.
I know the American International School annual teachers' salary increase is $1000 /month up to 10 years teaching exp, so the PNET pay increases are prob about average.

As for 20 years teaching in the PNET scheme - there's no way of knowing whether it'll run that long for a start!
Also, they only offer two-year contracts which makes it difficult to make long-term plans.
I'm not sure as to the length of contracts offered by the international schools. If they are longer it might be a better bet to apply to them if you want the security of job permanence. Otherwise you'll be facing the stress every two years of wondering whether the EMB and your school will offer you a new contract.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Thanks for the information. To work in an international school I would have to go back to the US and get certified. I am just wondering how one can be a long termer abroad. It seems the only way to achieve a higher standard of living abroad is to invest your money. Most ESL jobs do not offer long term security.

poof · Joined: 23 May 2005 Posts: 161

Hmm, a PNET for 10 years???! Has anyone here been a NET for that long??

While the idea may sound lucrative, what if you decided to get married and have kids in the next 10 years? A NET salary is great for a single person, but if you had to pay for a family size apartment and international schooling fees, a basic NET salary won't leave you with much in pocket.

Also, can you handle starting work at 7:30am every morning for 10 years?!

For the long term, and career level salaries, you may be better off looking at the Middle East.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

hkteach · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Hong Kong

Are you kidding JZer???? a local school might be alright??
It wouldn't matter how long I lived here or who I married, I would NEVER send any child of mine to a local school - even if they could speak fluent Cantonese, Putonghua and English. Ok, the Direct Subsidy schools might be worthy of consideration, but as for the government and aided schools, no way.
Yes I know it's my western 'foreigner' attitude coming through and the kids here are used to it/love it etc. etc. but any system that tolerates (even promotes) a failure rate of up to 80% is in serious trouble.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:34 pm Post subject:

hkteach · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Hong Kong

Living abroad long-term means different things but for the purposes of this discussion, we're talking specifically about lving in Hong Kong - a place where the local education system is cruel ......... to its students, its teachers and even to the parents who are also active participants (how many times have I been told 'we can't allow the kids to miss out pages in their textbooks/give them less homework/give them colouring activities etc. etc. etc. or the parents will complain' (according to teachers and principals I've discussed such things with, it appears that the parents are given too much clout - and this opinion from me who has taught in a country where parent participation is very high, but appropriate)

It's distressing to see little kids lugging heavy bags full of homework to and from school and knowing that there is little time for play after completing 3 hours homework a night.
And to see kids from the mainland with no English or kids with low IQ staying behind for an extra hour and a half for 'remedial' lessons (more of the same drill and rote) And to see teachers teaching English in Cantonese. With microphones so they ca