Job Discussion Forums

shmeagain · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Hong Kong

One of the centres I work for passed this info on to me. As with all EMB circulars it seems well....clear and unclear at the same time.

http://www.emb.gov.hk/UtilityManager/circular/upload/EMBC/EMBC05001E.PDF

The way I see it is that from April 1st they require all NETS (centre, school,govn school and EMB ) to verify their quals.

It looks like the EMB NETs are OK as they do it themselves.

SO this then leaves the rest of us. No one has ever verified my quals through an official body like the HKCAA.

I currently teach 25 hours per week in a primary school for one of the companies I work for. When the hiring starts for 2005/2006 academic year - will the schools start asking for this verification ( as they are supposed to do if you look at the website)?

If so, this could be quite a rude awakening for some teachers as it takes around 1 month to get this verification, and you need your highschool diploma and transcripts or they won't even look at your tertiary quals.

Luckily I still have mine - getting them now would be impossible.

Anyone else in the same boat?

AndyinHK · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 98

I'm not sure what the new requirements mean. In Part 5 of the above link it says if someone has already been assessed and have been accepted to teach at a local school then they do not have to do it again. In the process of applying for "permitted" teacher authorization they had to look at all of my academic quals. They reviewed it and I got a certificate about 3 mos later. I'm not sure if that is the same thing.

shmeagain · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Hong Kong

Andy,

As far as I know the "permitted teacher" permit is needed if you teach in centres or if a govn. school employs you directly, they will get it for you.

I was employed part time for a year by various centres (placed in schools) before I got offered this position at an AM school. I went for an interview and took all my certs. They looked at it, and then later I got the job. No one ever sent them anywhere to be varified though (as far as I know).

It seems that I now need to get this done before next academic year if I want to be in the position to look for other work.

I have been to a few interviews just to see what's out there, but no one has asked me about this. Could it just be that no one knows (or cares) and I'm just paranoid?

I don't want to spend over HK$ 2000 for a piece of paper no one will look at.

AndyinHK · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 98

Hi,

Looking at number 4 of the above link the EMB used to assess non-local quals when people applied for permitted status or registered status. In number 5 it says if you are a "local" teacher and have been approved to work at schools (directly hired by them) then you should not have to have the quals assessed again.

At least that is my take on it. Perhaps you should just sit tight and wait if they ask. Maybe I am wrong, but I sometimes feel the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing at the EMB.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Shemm
It really is very likely that no one knows about this. It is also very possible that no one actually cares very much either. I may be very wrong on this, but new English teachers in 2004/5 needed to be benchmarked. I know some who got jobs this year who do not have the benchmark. There are exceptions and exemptions, but it is better to worry about the LPAT if you do not have it.