Job Discussion Forums

[AKPO]

Is it really as disorganised as it seems? I applied last year through the EMB, passed the interview and then nothing. Fair enough, I thought, they don't want me, despite BA, RSA Cert and Dip, MA App Lings, 18 years sec school ESL experience in various countries. This year, thought I'd try again, contacted the EMB in Feb , they said they would reactivate my application. Since then nothing. Now I see various schools putting expensive advertisements in the SCMP asking for NETS to apply. Don't the EMB give them a list of who is available? Why do they have to do their own recruiting? Am I being a bit thick here? What should I do? Some sensible advice would be appreciated.

[Freddie_Unbelievable]

Do you having a teaching qualification? ie:PGCE If not, your at the bottom of the list. It does not matter about your MA in linguistics, teaching experience, ect. If you want to be a NET (a very high salary) become a certified professional teacher. (It might only be 1 year to do so)

You may apply directly to schools. The EMB will probably not place you in one.

Hound the EMB for a placement! Good luck!

RICH FREDDIE

[AKPO]

I do have a PGCE, just forgot to put it on last post. It all just seems completely arcane, the whole procedure. Do they want teachers or not? I'm here, with all the relevant qualifications and experience, but nothing is happening. I've tried applying to the schools who advertise in the scmp and they don't even reply. The EMB just fob me off. Is it still too early, am I being too impatient?

[Freddie_Unbelievable]

I would call them, e-mail them and meet them (f you are in HK)

My first offer was at the end of June. So, don't fret yet.

Fred

[Ger]

EMB is actively funding local HK teachers of English and Chinese to attend subject language university programmes in HK right now.

Your case does leave me wondering whether EMB is just paying lip-service to the NET concept (scrapped it all but in name).

Interesting that you are so qualified and that you haven't had a reply from EMB.

Have you submitted an application for a NET position?

EMB should at least have acknowledged your application.

My application got an emailed reply even though I am not qualified to teach in the NET scheme with a bachelors degree, two masters degrees and TEFL dip.

Despite my shortcomings, I do still teach HK pupils at a tutorial centre and I have applied for a part-time PGDE, but I haven't been accepted on the programme yet, apparently my employment setting may not satisfy the university's requirements for the practicum.

In fact, now that I think of it, as part of the PGDE programme screening process, I had to write an essay for half an hour on one of two topics relating to English Language Education. The topic that I didn't choose to write on was about the inadequacies of NETs!

[Freddie_Unbelievable]

"the inadequacies of NETs!"

Pretty funny. Hmmm, after two masters and a TESOL diploma, you finally figured out that you need to be a real teacher to be a NET.

I hear tutorial centers pay by the hour.

[Mark-O]

Sorry I can't augment anything that has been stated here on this post, but I just wondered whether it could be possible that you're maybe too qualified, or at least, too experienced? From what I've learnt of the NET scheme so far, you would come into the scheme on the highest payband as you exceed 10(?) years of previous teaching experience. Maybe the EMB wouldn't touch you because of the economics involved? Just a suggestion ... maybe someone could substantiate this.

[munasa]

Mark-O wrote:

[Champion...the wonderdog]

I suggest that you keep on at the EMB about your application. Currently, there are 95 NET vacancies. Schools advertise, as well, to keep their options open. You can download the list of all schools in HK from the EMB website. You could ring up schools yourself and ask them if they have any vacancies. Keep on at the EMB.

If you don't mind living in Yuen Long, there are quite a few vacancies there.

The scheme won't be phased out in the foreseeable future, but the EMB has apparently had to lower its expectations in terms of experience. Also, there are fewer Brits and Canadians applying, probably because of the potential drop in the allowance and the exchange rate. This is the reason that I'm leaving.

With your case, I don't know if you're Australian or not, but I've known a few Aussies that have had problems with getting their degree recognised and some of their years of experience. It doesn't seem to affect Brits or Canadians. I'm sorry but I can't comment on New Zealanders.

Well, good luck!

[AKPO]

Thanks for all helpful advice. My qualifications are all from the UK so I don't think that is the problem. I reckon I'll just be patient and keep giving the EMB the occasional nudge. If it is not to be then never mind. Life goes on.

[Freddie_Unbelievable]

"Maybe NETs(in secondary schools) have a cut off point, but I'm a PNET and have met others of my vintage, too. We all have over 10 years' experience and are in a good payband. We were hired in 2003."

PNET's do not reach as far up the salary scale as NET's do. Oh well.

[Ludwig]

'AKPO', I think you may perhaps be confused on a few points. I did two two-year NET contracts when I first came to HK, have been here for some time now, and so may be able to help.

First, 'NET' does not necessarily mean 'HK SAR EMB NET'. Indeed, I saw recently on this board a post referring to a 'NET position' on the mainland. (Quite obviously, the HK SAR EMB does not have NETs on the mainland.) Here in Hong Kong the term 'NET' simply means, well, as hinted at, native English(-speaking) teacher.

Many of the advertisements to which you refer will no doubt be employing the term in this latter sense. This will not be valid for all however as principals here enjoy - depending on the extent to which they must depend on the EMB for resources and funding (and there are many, many different 'types' of school here) - a great degree of autonomy. Many merely choose to conduct interviews themselves and then to recommend the candidate they wish to have in their school. As long as the candidate meets the basic requirements (though, in exceptional cases even this can be waived and candidates can be employed as unregistered teachers) the EMB will not want to become too overly involved. Many of these principals have upwards of 35 years experience in the HK education system, often in the very same school and, accordingly, tend to be pretty much left to their own devices as regards employment and deployment of staff (the EMB have different concerns).

Second, you will have to check that your 'experience' is 'experience' in the eyes of the EMB, that is, if it is indeed experience and not just (in their eyes) the potential fossilisation of bad practices. As stated very clearly in all germane paperwork, only post qualification teaching experience is classified as experience when it comes to entrance requirements and pay scale calculations. Two years of my prior experience was not recognised as it was pre-qualification.

Third, as regards your obvious shock at not having been contacted in relation to your application, I would merely advise you to accept that you lost out to others, this time around, but not to give up. The scheme attracts many, many applicants (perhaps more than you might imagine) and you should not be too overly disheartened or outraged at not having been selected, for, contrary to what one poster claims, the NET scheme, especially the PNET scheme, is to be quite radically expanded (as anyone currently working on the PNET evaluation with the EMB, HK IED, and Queensland University knows).

My advice would simply be to listen to those either currently on the scheme or those that have previously been on it (over those that simply can't get on it and so propagate (in the vain hope that they themselves will come to believe it) that the scheme is to be disbanded).

Back in the real world, it seems obvious that, with the proposed huge expansion of the scheme (and they are perhaps looking at every single primary school in the SAR having at least a bi-weekly NET within four years), it may well 'pay off' to 'plug on'. I would put any frustration aside since, if you do ever secure a position on the scheme, you will have to evince a somewhat higher tolerance level than you do presently. In sum, my advice would be to not be too overly myopic.

I would not normally quote Winston Churchill though in this case a paraphrase may be apt: If you are going through hell it surely makes sense to keep going!

[AKPO]

Thank you Ludwig. I wouldn't worry too much about my tolerance level, I've worked in the Middle East and South East Asia teaching secondary school ESL for about 17 years now. All post PGCE as well. Tolerance and staying calm in the face of adversity is something I'm well used to. It seems the message is "keep on keeping on". So that's what I'll do. Ta very much everyone.

[foster]

AKPO;

Since everyone has given you the lo-down on the quals, all I will add is that perservance pays off with the EMB. They are slow. Very Slow. You may get an offer in August for an August start. (it has happened)

I phoned them 2x a week until I got answers. I had all my paperwork ready to go and had all the necessary documents copied 10-fold for all the people who needed to have their own copy. Be sure to have all your information about degrees and experience on paper, as HK EMB LOVES paper.

Good luck and keep at them! See you in HK!