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cliviger
Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 4
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:24 am Post subject: what the hell is going on with the november NET interviews?? |
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I am absolutely furious. I am currently applying to the net scheme, via TEACH AWAY, with whom I have been in contact with since August. Originally interviews were scheduled for October in Vancouver and Toronto, for which I made special arrangements to be back in North America for. I was then informed that these interviews would be moved to late November, and also to send off the necessary documents and police report, etc. Now after much time and expense, they informed via a mass email that the education board in H.K have suspended all November interviews. TEACH AWAY claim to be surprised and disappointed by this and apparently are holding a conference call with head office in H.K to find out what's going on.
My question is, what to do next. Is anyone else here in the same boat? Has anybody experienced this before or know reasons behind the decision. As I have invested so much time and effort into this application (including decling other work opportunities in order to keep my schedule free for the interview) it seems totally unacceptable, not to mention unprofessional to do this again at the last minute. Any thoughts welcome. |
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Harry Houdini
Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 36 Location: HH Enterprises
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear about that, Cliviger. I can't answer your question, as I have no inside info on either the company you are dealing with or the EDB. If the EDB had interviews lined up for November and cancelled them at the last minute, it would certainly be rather inconsiderate of them. Of course the company may be lying for some reason, and stuffed it up somehow.
I can only wonder if the current economic problems in HK have caused the EDB to cut back on the NET scheme. I read that budget spending has been cut back 98% (that's not a typo) this financial year - compounded by the fact that gave away freebies last year - e.g. gave tax back. I hope not, as it brings the future of the NET scheme into question. |
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Harry Houdini
Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 36 Location: HH Enterprises
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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DP
Last edited by Harry Houdini on Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Harry Houdini
Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 36 Location: HH Enterprises
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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DP
Last edited by Harry Houdini on Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Harry Houdini
Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 36 Location: HH Enterprises
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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DP |
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prufrockwakes
Joined: 24 Oct 2008 Posts: 41
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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:10 am Post subject: |
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they have been really lame with me too. takes days to get a response and often a form letter. and it is asia, so even though it is HK, it is asia,,,,,,, red tape, delays, just because, how dare you ask,,,,,, hehehe,,,,,
i lived in south korea 2 years and now in japan almost 3 and this is not unusual. good luck whatever you do. |
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Marcoregano

Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: |
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Harry Houdini wrote: |
I can only wonder if the current economic problems in HK have caused the EDB to cut back on the NET scheme. I read that budget spending has been cut back 98% (that's not a typo) this financial year - compounded by the fact that gave away freebies last year - e.g. gave tax back. I hope not, as it brings the future of the NET scheme into question. |
Hi Harry. I work for the HK Govt (not as a teacher) and can't say I've come across this rumour. A cutback of 98% would leave everybody without a job, so my suspicion is that someone made a typo. I doubt if the downturn will have any impact on the NET prog or teaching budget in general. |
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cliviger
Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 4
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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Well I have now been informed by TEACH AWAY that the EDB have postponed interviews for March, as they are now only recruiting for the 2009/2010 school year. Unbelievable that they couldn't inform of this until now, seven days before the interview. |
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Marcoregano

Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:12 am Post subject: |
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But 2009/10 is the next school year! It makes sense that they should be interviewing for it - there is no teacher intake in the middle of the school year. |
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anninhk
Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:50 am Post subject: |
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In previous years there have been interviews for placement after Christmas. This was the case when they were moving from one NET for two schools to one NET in every school. This was the case in my schools. The new NET came in January and we shared the schools until the end of the school year when we decided who would teach where. The new NET got a contract for 18 months instead of the normal two years.
I presume now there are no NETs who are teaching in two schools and so it is not necessary. Now there will only be interviews in March for the school year 2009/10. |
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Marcoregano

Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:48 am Post subject: |
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Fair enough Ann, but September is/has always been the main start date. Still, I imagine there are bound to be a few ad hoc appointments made during the school year as a result of births, deaths, marriages and desertions... |
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timbalasian
Joined: 15 Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Calgary
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject: In the same boat |
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You received a mass emailed message? I have yet to received one. After sending them an email as to what is going on, they are now going to inform everyone.
I also made special arrangements in anticipation of the interview. I wish I had known earlier so that I would just go to HK and look for a job locally. Why not? I have the right to abode. I feel that my hopes were up for nothing, just like you, cliverger.
There is another guy who replied to my post on Teach Away's Facebook group. It seems that he had to do a lot more to apply, i.e. background check and such. Did you have to do that? In the theme of inconsistency, do you notice that Teach Away requirement seems to fluctuate? The last email I had received (the one reminding everyone the deadline being the last day of October), the requirement was no longer a teaching degree. However, and again a change, if you look at their website now the requirements is changed back to a teaching degree as one of the tiers.
My head is shaking. |
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Serious_Fun

Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:27 am Post subject: Re: In the same boat |
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timbalasian wrote: |
My head is shaking. |
The shaking is but a taste of what you will experience in....The Hong Kong EdB Zone!  |
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prufrockwakes
Joined: 24 Oct 2008 Posts: 41
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:30 am Post subject: still waitin' for my scheduled interview call......... |
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Miss Smith said Friday the 14th, 7:30 am--that was 4 days ago; guess it's not important now from the postponed interview date...... I was hoping for a later time anyway, so it's cool ; ) |
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timbalasian
Joined: 15 Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Calgary
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: In the same boat |
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Serious_Fun wrote: |
timbalasian wrote: |
My head is shaking. |
The shaking is but a taste of what you will experience in....The Hong Kong EdB Zone!  |
Do share! |
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