Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme



Date Context Summary of development Action
7.5.97CMThe Council passed a motion moved by Hon Mrs Selina CHOW supporting the implementation of the policy of mother-tongue teaching in Hong Kong and urging the Government to strengthen the teaching of the English language in secondary schools so as to enhance the basic proficiency of local students in using English as the second language to complement their pursuit of further studies and future careers. [Hansard "page 117"]
9.10.97PAThe Chief Executive (CE) announced in the Policy Address 1997 the implementation of a new Native-speaking English Teachers (NETs) Scheme, providing more than 700 additional native-speaking English teachers for secondary schools from 1998. [Policy Address "paragraphs 84 to 88"]
17.10.97EDThe Panel discussed with the Administration the proposed NET Scheme. [Minutes]
5.11.97CQHon YEUNG Yiu-chung raised a question on the employment of expatriate English language teachers in secondary schools. [Hansard "page 61"]
12.11.97CMThe Council passed a motion moved by Hon Mrs Elsie TU requesting the Government to take into consideration the views of Members on the proposal to provide more than 700 additional native English-speaking teachers of English for Hong Kong secondary schools. [Hansard "page 99"]
21.11.97FCFC accepted the financial implications of introducing a new NET Scheme in public sector secondary schools with effect from the 1998/99 school year, and approved a remuneration package for teachers employed under the Scheme. [Paper]
31.7.98FCFC approved the extension of NET Scheme to cover practical schools, skills opportunity schools and the secondary section of special schools except those for the mentally handicapped, with effect from the 1998/99 school year. [Paper]
23.9.98CQDr Hon David LI raised a question on the recruitment of NETs, noting the fact that a quarter of the job offers had been turned down by overseas recruits. [Hansard]
6.10.98PACE announced in the Policy Address 1998 the provision of up to four additional English language teachers for each Chinese medium school, of whom a maximum of two might be native-speaking English teachers in order to improve the teaching of English in these schools. [Policy Address "paragraph 97"]
21.10.98CQHon YEUNG Yiu-chung raised a question on the progress of the enhanced NET Scheme for secondary schools. [Hansard]
16.11.98EDThe Panel discussed with the Administration the progress of the measures to enhance the teaching of English language in schools, in particular the measures referred to in the 1998 Policy Objective, such as the provision of NETs and the development of language benchmarks for teachers of English. [Paper]
2.12.98CQDr Hon David LI raised a question on the decline in English standard in Hong Kong. [Hansard]
21.4.99CQHon YEUNG Sum raised a question on the survey conducted by the Administration on schools employing NETs. [Hansard]
28.4.99CQHon David CHU raised a question on NET Scheme, in particular on the recruitment procedures and the time required, and the plans in place to facilitate these teachers in adapting to the teaching and living environment in Hong Kong. [Hansard]
7.7.99CQHon Kenneth TING raised a question on matters relating to teachers employed under NET Scheme taking up part-time jobs. [Hansard "page 65"]
15.3.00CQHon James TIEN raised a question on the effectiveness of NET Scheme, noting that about one sixth of the teachers employed under the Scheme whose contracts would expire in 2000 would not renew their contracts. [Hansard "page 13"]

Hon Emily LAU also raised a question on the provision of NETs to primary schools. [Hansard "page 56"]
13.12.00CQHon NG Leung-sing raised a question on the setting up of a Working Holiday Scheme for young people of Hong Kong and New Zealand under which some of the New Zealand holiday-makers would be recruited as English teacher assistants to reinforce NET Scheme. [Hansard "page 50"]
19.11.01EDAt the meeting when the Panel discussed with the Administration on CE's Policy Address 2001, some members enquired about the timetable for introducing NETs and the English Language Teaching Assistant (ELTA) schemes to the primary schools. [Minutes "page 8"]
21.1.02EDThe Panel discussed with the Administration its plan to implement NET and ELTA Scheme in public sector primary schools (including special schools) with effect from the 2002/03 school year. [Paper]

The Panel also discussed with the Administration the progress on the implementation of the NET Scheme in secondary schools. [Paper]
3/02FCSome members raised questions on matters relating to the expenditures on NET and ELTA schemes in primary and secondary schools in examining the Estimates of Expenditures 2002/03. [Questions "Reply Serial Nos.: EMB106, 115, 127, 136, 192]
27.3.02FCAt the meeting when FC examined the Estimates of Expenditures 2002/03, members discussed with the Administration on its plan to extend NET Scheme to primary schools with effect from 2002/03. [Speaking note of the Secretary for Education and Manpower] [Minutes "page 7"]
9.10.02CQIr Dr Hon Raymond HO raised a question on matters relating to the implementation of NET Scheme in secondary schools and NET and ELTA Scheme in primary schools. [Hansard "page 63"]
16.12.02EDThe Panel discussed with the Administration the results of the recruitment of NETs for secondary schools and ELTAs for primary schools for 2002/03 school year, and new measures to ensure recruitment targets could be met for 2003/04 school year. [Paper]
3/03FCSome members raised questions on matters relating to the expenditures on NET and ELTA schemes in primary schools in examining the Estimates of Expenditures 2003/04. [Questions "Reply Serial Nos.: EMB061, 070]
17.11.03EDThe Panel discussed with the Administration on introducing a mechanism for making regular adjustments to the rate of the Special Allowance payable to NET recruited under the NET schemes of primary and secondary schools. [Paper]
10.12.03CQHon Abraham SHEK raised a question on the recruitment of 150 additional NETs for primary schools in 2003. [Hansard "page 71"]
10.1.05EDThe Panel discussed with the Administration on the latest development of NET Scheme in primary schools. [Paper]
11.7.05 ED The Panel discussed with the Administration on NET Scheme, and met with Native English-speaking Teachers' Association on the subject. [Paper]

The Panel also noted the background brief prepared by Legislative Council Secretariat on "Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme". [Paper]
24.10.05 ED The Panel discussed with the Administration on Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme. [Paper]

The Panel also noted the background brief prepared by Legislative Council Secretariat on "Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme". [Paper]
18.11.05FC FC approved a commitment to revise the remuneration package for teachers under the NET Scheme; and delegate the authority to the Secretary for Education and Manpower to approve future revisions to the special allowance for teachers under the Scheme. [Paper]
1.11.06 CQ Hon Emily LAU raised a question on enhancing English Language education in primary schools. [Hansard "page 81"]
16.4.07 ED The Panel met with deputations and the Administration to discuss "Review of the Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme". [Paper]

The Panel also noted the updated background brief prepared by Legislative Council Secretariat on "Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme". [Paper]
6.7.11 CQ Hon Audrey EU raised a question on "Native-speaking English Teacher Schemes in Primary and Secondary Schools". [Hansard "page 136"]
7.12.11 CQ Hon Tanya CHAN raised a question on "Education Support for Children of Native-speaking English Teachers". [Hansard "page 159"]


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