Job Discussion Forums

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

In response to a recent post about the origin of NETs, here's the facts:

Number of NETs recruited by Education Bureau (EDB), and (b) the breakdown of these NETs by nationality

for 1998/1999 school year to 2007/2008 school year are summarized in the following Table:

Year Australian Canadian New Zealander American British Others Total

1998/1999 102 35 21 2 6 22 188
1999/2000 21 14 18 3 12 2 70
2000/2001 29 1 4 2 10 23 69
2001/2002 22 7 6 0 4 19 58
2002/2003 84 25 33 4 37 8 191
200312004 108 44 14 4 30 7 207
2004/2005 117 38 22 5 17 18 217
2005/2006 68 54 18 6 26 22 194
2006/2007 38 22 18 13 14 10 115
200712008 35 17 13 12 20 11 108

Apologies for the poor graphics. I'm surprised at the relatively low number of Brits and the high number of Aussies. Seems there's some truth to the US paranoia though the last couple of years have seen an increase, with 12 US citizens recruited last year and 13 the year before. I guess there will be some NETs missing from the above - those recruited directly by their schools - but these will be far fewer numerically.

Deicide · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: NETs by nationality

Cohen · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 91 Location: Hong Kong

??? Maybe that is why there are so few US teachers on the NET scheme? (Though I am not actually at all sure what your point/question is, Deicide!) The point of the OP's post was to confirm the view � discussed recently on another thread (I wish the OP had posted it there as then you may have had some context) � that there are relatively few US teachers on the NET schemes in HK. As I said on that thread, in nearly ten years here I have never met one, though I have heard there are one or two. This confirms that anecdotal insight.

The 'magic teaching license' is not at all magic! It's a teaching qualification. And it is by no means 'closed shop'; anyone can complete such a course and gain such a qualification � no one is born with one! You might as well ask why it is that people with a 'magic flying license' get all the benefits associated with and enjoyed by pilots!

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

As a Brit myself I was surprised at the low number of fellow NETs I met that were British but I put it down to the selection procedure. If you want to leave a job in the UK you have to hand in your notice at the end of May to leave in the summer holidays.
Unfortunately because of the slowness of the recruitment procedure you are never sure if you definitely have a job in HK despite passing the interview in March/April.
You have to decide - give up your job and take a chance or stay.
Also, unless you are nearing retirement age it is a big thing to give up your job in England as you may find it really difficult to get back and you probably won't get back on the same terms and level of responsibility you had.
I left in 1985 to be a VSO and got secondment. Nowadays secondment isn't an option and so organisations like VSO are suffering too.

bule_boy69 · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Jakarta

Hi all ...
I'm a little confused about what people mean by the term 'teaching license' on th9is forum re NET.

i have an Australian Grad Dip Ed (Secondary). That means i can teach in High schools.... but What i dont have is teacher registration in Austalia - cos i dont live there so i consider it a waste of money.

Perhaps Aussie NETS can tell me.....
Do u need to be registered or is the Grad Dip Ed sufficient?

Thanks

vancouver_syndicate · Joined: 09 Sep 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Canada

interesting to see how the numbers fluctuate. does anyone know if they will be increasing or decreasing the numbers for the next few years

Cohen · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 91 Location: Hong Kong

As I understand it, they don't ever set out to increase or decrease the numbers of NETs, but rather have to take from the applications they receive. Obviously it is the case that the number of applicants fluctuates from year to year and/or the calibre of candidates varies thus resulting in fewer or more NETs being taken on.

I do have one question for the OP: do those figures refer to PNETs, SNETs, or both? Also, would you have the source? Much obliged!

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

The PNET scheme only kicked off in 2002/3. The figs since then are for PNET and SNET combined (and explain the big jump in numbers that year), and before that are for SNET only. The source is the EMB.

Cohen · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 91 Location: Hong Kong

Thanks for that, but I am quite aware of the history of the NET schemes, what with having worked on one of them and all. Anyway, would you have a 'source source', i.e., a source-like source, such as a publication or a website for these figures?

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Cohen, I was only answering your question! In any case, you might be aware of the history of the NET schemes, but most readers probably aren't. I don't have a specific source as such, or rather I do but can't disclose it here. The info might be available somewhere on the EDB website but I haven't looked.

Cohen · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 91 Location: Hong Kong

Yes, and I was merely asking a question.

I think it is interesting that from 04/05 to 07/08 the total figures have dropped from 217 to 194, then to 115, and then to 108. It doesn't take an Alan Turing to discern a clear trend there.

What I would like to see is a breakdown by ethnicity. I think that would be interesting! It would be especially interesting to see such a breakdown by location, too. In almost ten years here I am yet to see a non-Caucasian NET on HK Island, or at an 'elite' school in Kowloon, for example. It is not till one gets out to the sticks that you begin to bump into ABCs, CBCs, BBCs, Malaysian NETs and so on. I guess 'the patents wouldn't like it'. Also, I have never met or even heard of a coloured EDB NET. Has anyone else? A principal once actually said to me � without the slightest hint of shame or embarrassment � that they would 'scare the children'.

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

Just because you personally don't know any doesn't mean they don't exist. In fact there are several. I couldn't tell you where they work though.
I attended a Course run by Scholar recently and the tutor who took our sessions was black, so perhaps there has been a change in perceptions lately.
With Obama as an example anything is possible!

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

I agree with Ann, and have known two non-caucasian NETs, from Trinidad and Sri Lanka.

Regarding the recent decline in numbers recruited to the NET prog, a possible explanation is that people are staying in their jobs, so fewer new recruits are required.

Cohen · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 91 Location: Hong Kong

Yes, I am fully aware that all because I do not know of any that is does not necessarily mean there are not any; that's why I was interested in hearing from others. I would nevertheless point out that it is somewhat significant that in close to ten years I have never met or heard of any.

So Ann knows of 'several' � though does not know if they work on the Island or in Kowloon � and Marco knows of two, but again does not furnish us with information as to where they work. Also, I have to say, two or three is not an especially large number, is it? Also, what on Earth is �Scholar�? Was the tutor an EDB NET? If not (as I suspect) how is it relevant to a discussion of EDB NETs?

Marco, I am confused. You first said the final figure you supplied referred to the total number of NETs, now you seem to be saying it refers to the number of new NETs recruited. Is that right?