Job Discussion Forums

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

Just wondering if any of the NETS using the forum have taken a sabbatical (ie. a year off) and then returned to the NET prog? Or whether you know anybody who has?

Interested to find out whether it's possible to do so without incurring severe damage one's salary scale, etc. Is it possible to freeze your terms and conditions so that you start back where you left off? I imagine the answer is that it depends on your school...but anyway, grateful for any input.

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

As nobody knows or cares I made enquiries. The answer seems to be 'yes', you can take a year out and return to your previous salary and conditions, though it may depend on how many years you have worked for the NET prog.

RiverMystic · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 1986

I heard that for one year off you can keep the retention incentive (assuming you are getting it). If you quit mid-contract though, that may also be an issue. Of course you'd probably have to apply to another school.

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

For sure, you need to see your contract out. Also best if you can get written confirmation from your current school that they will take you back - otherwise you need to line up a new school during your year off, which may not be plain sailing...

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

This is something that really needs to be raised with the EDB, especially the salary issue due to the changes made back in August 2007.

(quick recap for those who don't know: prior to August 2007, teachers pay started on step 12 of the Civil service Master Pay scale. From Aug 2007, they now start on step 17. For all teachers, NETs included, who started <Aug 2007, their pay went up just 2 steps, not 5. This means a new NET with the exact same quals + xp as an existing NET is 3 steps [1 year xp=1 step] further up the scale, getting HK$4-5000 /month more. Apparently, this is 'fair')

If one was to take a years sabbatical, would returning mean you would be reassessed according to the new scale, and thus jump up 3 steps? But in doing so, would you lose your RI?
I know other NETs have inquired to the EDB about it, but have not got a straight, set, answer.

It's something I've thought about doing, to regain a little bit of sanity and health, but the prospect of having to reapply and go through all that aggravation again puts me off. It would be great if the EDB did allow sabbaticals. It certainly would help with retention.

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

Hi Smoog, I pm'd you about this...

Peter Wales · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 63

What's a/the RI?

I thought sabbaticals were only for uni lecturers?

About maids.....Immigration have told me and my wife that we can't have a maid from China! Why? They said we have to have a maid from the Phillipines, Indonesia, Nepal, India, or any other country (UK, Sweden, Switzerland....), but NOT China. Why.....?

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

sabbatical = any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.

Peter Wales · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 63

Yes, I know what the word means, but it is not normal to use the word for anyone other than lecturers/professors.....

Why is Hong Kong so pretentious? I went to an interview at a PRIMARY school and they referred to the 'faculty'..... I said 'Do you mean the staff/the teachers.....?'

RiverMystic · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 1986