Job Discussion Forums

[crito]

Hi, I recently received a letter from the EMB requiring me to forward to them my High School Cert and Transcripts. Now they told me before this, that I had passed the interview stage and was only waiting for the qualifications assessment.

This creates a problem because I never finished high school and entered university as a mature student. Nowhere in the application form does it say that a high school diploma is necessary.

Does anyone know if this will cause a problem with them? Or for that matter does anyone have any advice on how I should approach the request?

Thanks

[11:59]

That is by no means a normal request. Indeed, I have never heard of such a thing in regards to the NET scheme. Therefore, as I refuse to believe it is a coincidence that in this isolated instance they just happened to ask for something you have not got, my guess would be that they have been doing some digging and have discovered this apparent anomaly. Now, you say that nowhere on the application form does it state that a high school diploma is necessary, but normally it is assumed that a university graduate would have gone through the primary and secondary school system(s). Primary school is a prerequisite for secondary school, which is itself a prerequisite for sixth form college, which itself is a prerequisite for university entrance, at least in the UK and, more importantly, in HK. You might as well say that the application form does not explicitly state that you must have a pulse, or that you must not leap out into the path of an oncoming juggernaut, if you get my drift.

I have to say that, unfortunately, I can imagine it being a huge problem for you, and it may even result in your being flatly rejected. After all, how could they employ someone to teach high school if they themselves have never managed to complete this stage of education?

[BCinHK]

Yes, it could be the end of the world as stated by 11:59 - or it could be because your qualifications are being assessed by the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation. www.hkcaa.edu.hk

Their accreditation process involves asking for strange things like high school transcripts and the comment sheet from your teaching practicum supervisor - even if you did your practicum 30 years ago.
Send the EMB your high school transcript. If you can, get your university to issue a letter stating your were admitted as a mature student. Or copy the page from the university calendar about admittance of mature students.

There is at least one other thread on this forum about the HKCAA - do a search and enjoy reading about this amazing non-governmental organization.

BTW - Have you been asked to pay the HKCAA assessment fee of $2160HK or is this being covered by the EMB?????

[Smoog]

I once went in to the HKCAA to enquire about acreditation (you don't really need it, but it is useful) and was told they needed to see my old school C (which you did in year11 in NZ) results.

Never mind that I had my full Uni transcripts for my two degrees, also for my postgrad teach dip and another postgrad dip I've completed. I also had my Uni entrance exam results - which are sat in year13 in NZ (aand only after you've passed yr11 exams obviously).
But nope. None of these scripts mattered. What was important to the HKCAA was what marks I got as a 15 yr old in an exam 20+ years ago.
The hassle of getting that (and the $2k cost) put me off trying to acreditation.

HK bureacracy - it's a thing of beauty really it is.


About you case, though - it could just be that someone noticed when you completed your degree and wants to know why the length of time between high school and Uni. Or maybe they noticed in your CV no mention about a High school diploma and want to check.

[crito]

Thanks for the responses. I phoned the EMB today and it was positively resolved. This HK forum is one of the more helpful forums on Dave's.

As for your question about whether I am paying the fee, they have not asked me to so I guess I am not.

Cheers
Mark

[11:59]

Mark, that is good news indeed. All's well that ends well, right? Just make sure that that fee is not deducted from your first month's salary.