FCR(98-99)24

For discussion
on 31 July 1998

ITEM FOR FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 40 - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Subhead 149 General departmental expenses
Subhead 320 Code of Aid for special schools

Members are invited to approve extension of the Native-speaking English Teacher 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.

PROBLEM

The Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) Scheme does not cover special schools, practical schools and skills opportunity schools.

PROPOSAL

2. With the support of the Secretary for Education and Manpower, the Director of Education proposes to extend the ambit of the 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.

JUSTIFICATION

3. On 21 November 1997, Finance Committee (FC) of the Provisional Legislative Council approved a NET Scheme under which one NET would be provided to each public sector secondary school with less than 40 classes, and two NETs to each school with 40 or more classes. In addition, schools adopting Chinese as the Medium of Instruction may elect to fill one of the English teacher posts provided to them with a NET.

4. The NET Scheme does not, however, cover special schools, practical schools and skills opportunity schools. After consultation with the Hong Kong Special Schools Council and having regard to the following factors, we consider that these schools would also benefit from having a NET -

1. these schools follow the regular curriculum;

2. some of their school leavers are integrated in other secondary schools or enrolled in vocational training courses offered by the Vocational Training Council after Secondary 3; and

3. students who remain in the senior forms will sit for public examinations, e.g. the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.

The NET in these schools can act as an English language resource teacher and will provide an environment more conducive to students communicating in English and practising their oral skills. We do not recommend extending the Scheme to special schools for the mentally handicapped in view of their special curriculum and different educational needs.

5. The proposed extension of the Scheme will benefit 27 practical schools, skills opportunity schools and special schools with a secondary section.

6. NETs appointed to work in practical schools, skills opportunity schools and special schools with a secondary section will be given the same remuneration package as that applied to those appointed under the current Scheme. Details are at Enclosure 1. The same qualifications for appointment as set out in Enclosure 2 will apply, except that in recruiting NETs to work in special schools, we will give preference to candidates with experience in special education.

7. We will adopt similar arrangements in recruiting NETs to serve in schools under the extended Scheme. These arrangements have been adopted after an attempt to commission an agency with a global network to conduct the recruitment exercise failed. Under the current arrangements, we would encourage individual schools or school sponsoring bodies to recruit NETs on their own. We will reimburse the schools the recruitment costs incurred. The rates of reimbursement are arrived at based on the actual expenditure incurred by the Education Department (ED) during its recruitment in early 1998. So far, around 170 schools have elected to recruit NETs on their own. For schools that do not wish or are unable to do so, ED will undertake the recruitment centrally and then assign appointees to schools.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

8. We estimate that the annually recurrent cost of including practical schools, skills opportunity schools and the secondary section of special schools (except those for the mentally handicapped) in the NET Scheme from 1998-99 to 2001-02 will be as follows -

		1998-99 $'000	1999-2000 $'000	2000-01 $'000	2001-02 $'000
(a) Salaries		3,775	9,067	10,920	10,920
(b) Passages and baggage allowance		747	488	1,398	911
(c) Special allowance		1,456	3,497	4,212	4,212
(d) Medical allowance		66	110	110	110
(e) Contract gratuities		0	0	1,941	1,335
Sub-total for remuneration package		6,044	13,162	18,581	17,488
(f) Supply teachers		19	45	55	55
(g) Recruitment related expenses		313	249	172	162
(h) Evaluation		64	429	54	54
Total		6,440	13,885	18,862	17,759

9. As regards paragraph 8(a), the expenditure is for the payment of salaries for NETs at Graduate Master/Mistress rank. We assume that 16 and 11 additional schools which will become eligible under the extended NET Scheme will join the Scheme in the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 school years respectively.

10. As regards paragraph 8(b), the expenditure is for passages and baggage allowance for the NETs and their accompanying spouses and children, if any.

11. As regards paragraph 8(c), the expenditure is for the payment of a special allowance of $13,000 per month to NETs whose normal place of residence is outside Hong Kong. This allowance is fixed during the term of the contract.

12. As regards paragraph 8(d), the expenditure is for the payment of a medical allowance to NETs and their dependants, if any.

13. As regards paragraph 8(e), the expenditure is for the payment of contract gratuities, calculated at 15% of the total basic salary over the contract period, upon satisfactory completion of a two-year contract.

14. As regards paragraph 8(f), the expenditure is for providing supply teachers to substitute NETs on leave.

15. As regards paragraph 8(g), the expenditure is for recruitment undertaken by ED, qualification assessment, organisation of induction courses, provision of reimbursement to schools which elect to recruit NETs on their own, provision of support services and information kits for the new recruits, and organisation of training courses/experience sharing sessions for NETs and local teachers. We have assumed a wastage rate of 20% at the end of each contract.

16. As regards paragraph 8(h), the expenditure is to cover expenses for the evaluation of the Scheme. The evaluation will include the rate of success of the Scheme in raising the English language standard of Hong Kong students.

17. The estimated funding requirements arising from the extended Scheme can be met within the financial provision allowed for the NET Scheme as noted by FC in approving the Scheme and subsequently included in the 1998-99 Estimates. This is because even with the additional number of NETs to be recruited for the extended Scheme, the total number of NETs to be recruited is expected to be smaller than originally expected.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

18. In October 1997, the Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address that a NET Scheme, providing over 750 NETs, will be introduced to enhance the teaching and learning of English in secondary schools in Hong Kong. We obtained FC's approval on 21 November 1997 for the implementation of the Scheme. In the 1998/99 school year, around 450 NETs will be required in public sector secondary schools.

Education and Manpower Bureau
July 1998

Enclosure 1 to FCR(98-99)24

The remuneration package and fringe benefits

(a)Salary

Payable monthly, and equivalent to that for teachers at Graduate Master/Mistress rank (Master Pay Scale 17-33, or $22,075 to $46,485 at 1998-99 prices); actual salary to be determined on the basis of individual appointees' qualifications and relevant experience.

(b)Passage

Standard economy air tickets to and from the country of origin by the most direct route for the appointee, his/her spouse and accompanying children for each contract.

(c)Baggage allowance

Reimbursement of travelling and baggage expenses to and from the country of origin at the rate comparable to that for eligible civil servants.

(d)Special allowance

A fixed monthly allowance of $13,000, payable only to appointees whose normal place of residence is outside Hong Kong.

(e)Medical allowance

As reimbursement for the appointees to take out medical insurance, up to $1,400 per year for a single appointee and $5,400 per year for a married appointee. These rates correspond to the average expenses in this regard in the civil service.

(f)Contract gratuities

15% of the total basic salary over the contract period payable on completion of each contract.

Other entitlements

(a)Salary advance

Payable on first appointment and on application an amount not exceeding two months' salary, and repayable monthly within the period of the relevant contract.

(b)Leave entitlement

Leave entitlement includes school holidays, casual leave, sick leave and maternity leave.

Enclosure 2 to FCR(98-99)24

The applicant should be a native-speaker of English.

Experience in teaching English outside his/her country is preferable.

For teachers to be employed in special schools, practical schools and skills opportunity schools, experience in special education is preferable.

The qualifications for appointment of NETs are categorised in the following order of priority -

Category 1

1. a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language or Linguistics or English Literature or English Studies or a Modern Language;

2. a Post-graduate Certificate in Education or equivalent;

3. a Teaching of English as a Foreign Language or a Second Language (TEFL/TESL) qualification at least at the diploma level; and

4. at least 2 years' post-graduate experience of teaching English preferably as a second or foreign language in a recognised institution at secondary level or above.

Category 2

1. a Bachelor in Education degree (major in English or a Modern Language, but not primary education specialist) obtained after 3 years' full-time study;

2. a Teaching of English as a Foreign Language or a Second Language (TEFL/TESL) qualification at least at the diploma level; and

3. at least 2 years' post-graduate experience of teaching English preferably as a second or foreign language in a recognised institution at secondary level or above.

Category 3

1. a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language or Linguistics or English Literature or English Studies or a Modern Language;

2. a Post-graduate Certificate in Education or equivalent or TEFL/TESL qualification at least at the diploma level; and

3. at least 2 years' post-graduate experience of teaching English preferably as a second or foreign language in a recognised institution at secondary level or above.