Aspiring teachers are expected to have a tough road ahead of them.

By Mandy Tsui Wai Tung

Low birth rate and continuous class reduction have made it harder for aspiring teachers.

Teaching has typically seen a low turnover rate. Low birth rate and continuous class reduction have made it harder for fresh college graduates. About 10, 208 graduates will compete for some 100 spots made empty by retiring teachers next year.

In addition, the number of school-age secondary one students will drop by 11,000 in the coming four years according to Hong Kong’s Secretary for Education Eddie Ng.

In response to the growing problem, the Education Bureau proposed a “2-1-1” place reduction scheme in all secondary schools. This means that schools can reduce the number of spots for every incoming class. In order to ensure the redundant current teachers being employed, the Education Bureau promised to safeguard their jobs for three years. Still, this doesn’t make it easier for young teachers.
Leo Lam, a student at The Hong Kong Institute of Education, is going to graduate this year. Lam is anxious that he will not be able to find a job.

“The “2-1-1” place reduction scheme makes it more difficult for us to find a job because current redundant teachers are more experienced. Schools will hire them rather than the fresh graduates,” Lam said.
Faced with this surplus of prospective teachers, most schools hire new graduates as teacher assistants with the idea that they may get promoted if teachers retire or quit.

Lam was once invited for an interview as a teaching assistant, but he declined the interview. “This is not an attractive alternative to me. If I apply for a teacher assistant position, my teaching experience must not be comparable with the formal ones,” he said. “In addition teaching assistants have fewer fringe benefits.”

He added that he would consider changing careers if opportunities in teaching remained dismal.
“My girlfriend and I plan to get married in these few years so I need to earn a living,” he said. “My other interest is taking photos, so I may look into being a photographer, but of course being a teacher is my first priority.” Michael Lui, the chairman of Hong Kong Prospective Teachers Association, blamed the Education Bureau for poor planning. He said that the problem could be alleviated if the government regulated the teacher education quota.

“In 2009, about 9,700 students were being trained to become teachers. And our birth rate is decreasing each year, so how come there are more than 10,000 teacher education quotas this year? ” Lui asked. On the other hand, Lui suggested that schools reserve a certain number of spots for new teachers every year so that the industry retains young talent.
Ip Kin Yuen, the Legislative Council member for Education constituency, agrees the planning is insufficient and advised the government to adjust the teacher to student ratio.  He also agrees that regulating the teacher education quota every year is another solution.

Some education experts say that setting a quota is complex and may trigger other challenges. In the meantime, young and aspiring teachers such as Lam continue to hope for the best and keep their fingers crossed.

留言 Comments