Job Discussion Forums

[pompomouse]

I have done some reading regarding the NET scheme - where English speakers work in public schools in HK, but I have a few questions;

1) I am a certified Cdn. teacher (B.A. had a minor in English Literature)with five years teaching experience ( four in Canada and one in Korea). What are my prospects for getting a job under the NET Scheme? When I was in HK three summers ago I had a brief conversation with one gentlemen who gave me the impression that working for public schools in HK was really competitive, yet from what I have read here many people seem to suggest is not a good program to work for. I am confused.

2) I have been to HK once but for a brief time, so I don't think I got a realistic impression of the costs of things. The special allowance for housing- is it adequate for what they offer? Meaning can you get a place for the money they offer or would part of my monthly income be needed to make up the difference in rent? I don't mind living with others to save on costs, and I don't need a swank pad- but not willing to live in absolute dump either.

3) What do foreigners do in their free time? I realize this is a broad question, but I just found that while I lived in Korea all the foreigners ever seemed to really do was drink and complain about being in Korea. What is the vibe like amongst foreigners?

4) I have read here on this forum some negative things about the NET scheme. If you have worked for a Korean hagwon before and are now working for the NET scheme, how do the two jobs compare?

5) If you are a Cdn. working for the Net Scheme, how much are you are able to save a month in CAD dollars?

Thanks for your help and advise in this matter and apologies for such a long post with so many questions.

Take care,

Pompomouse

[ChrisRose]

1) Your prospects. Fair - reasonable.

2) The allowance is adequate and you can pocket any change!

3) Hong Kong is far more ethnically diverse than Korea. So less of a them / us attitude.

4) There are exceptional recreational opportunities of all kinds available in HK. Should you actually have free time.

5) Sorry I don't know. However the lower scale of average incomes (Guessing, haven't got a current scale around) would be perhaps $9,000 a month.

So you certainly have the opportunity to save. This shoppers Paradise you also have the opportunity to shop yourself and spend yourself into bankruptcy.

[Smoog]

As for the competitiveness of the NET scheme, I think that might depend on whether it's primary or secondary. I don't know about secondary, but in primary at the start of this year they had filled only 41 of the 100 teaching positions. So they're pretty desperate.
And next school year there'll be more, as most (if not all) primary schools are going to become all day schools (at present they run two schools in the same building - a morning school and an afternoon school).

Apply for both to increase your chances would be my advice. The pay isn't much different - I think primary starts 1 or 2 steps down on the pay scale (so $1-1500HK p/month).
The pay scale is called the Master Pay Scale. Google it and the first hit is from the HK Civil Service bureau. Primary starts on step 12. You go up 1 step for every year teaching, and further steps for ESL quals, Masters, extra quals etc (for a maximum of 3 steps). Plus $10500HK p/month housing allowance. Just to give you an idea of what you'd be earning.
A room in a flat in central HK is around $5K p/month (much cheaper in the New Territories). Eating and travelling is cheap - prob another 5k p/month, as long as you don't eat in Western restaurants too often (which are 10 times dearer than the local little eateries found on every street here).
I've found you can save money here. In the first 6 months I was here I was teaching in a private centre for less than you'd get as a NET (I was on $23000p/month) and still managed to save $10000HK a month (well pay back $10K a month off my debts and loans truth be told). Though admittedly I was hard-ut budgeting to pay off all my debts asap (and which I'm happy to say I will have once I get paid for last month! YAY!!)
I'm now starting a NETS position this Wednesday - I'll be getting $32K, so conceivably I can save $20K p/month (approx. $3000Can - more if the US$ goes up). Which I think you'll agree is pretty good.

However you do need to be disciplined about this. I went out today to go see the Impressionists exhibit on at the Art Museum. It was packed with a queue a mile long, so I decided instead to take the ferry to Central and take in a movie at IFC. 4 hours later I'm back home, having not seen the movie (it was sold out) but having spent $700HK on books and food. Luckily I've yet to be paid for last month, so I only had a few hundred left in my bank, or it would have been a lot more. It's so damn easy to do here!
Incidently, does everyone know that as a teacher you can get into any of the Museums here for free? There's a form to download off the museum website, which you need to get your principal to sign and stamp. But once that's done, you get free entrance, which is cool.