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William Yiu

An association representing native English-speaking teachers (NETs) in Hong Kong has warned that less-attractive pay offered under a new hiring scheme risks lowering the quality of recruits and standards, with the contracts of some experienced educators not being renewed.
Most public primary and secondary schools seeking NETs have decided to switch to the flexible scheme, which no longer ties remuneration to years of service and generally offers substantially lower pay.
But the Native English Speaking Teachers’ Association warned that the model, introduced this school year, risked lowering the quality of education.
“Any sustained move away from an experience-based pay structure risks gradually diminishing the overall depth of expertise within the NETs cohort and, by extension, the quality of English education delivered to students,” chairman Andrew Monks said.
“The instability of the NET scheme will make it more difficult for quality educators to make Hong Kong their home or persuade experienced teachers to bring their families to Hong Kong.”
Under the new scheme, each primary or secondary school that opts for the government’s NET grant receives HK$900,000 (US$114,900) and HK$1 million respectively every academic year.
Schools can use the grant to hire NETs and qualified teaching assistants, as well as to subscribe to English-learning services.
The funds cover the entire pay package, including salary, contract gratuity and fringe benefits.
The scheme coexists with the original model that offers more attractive packages, and schools can switch between them every year.
The traditional model, under which only one NET would be hired, offers a basic salary and follows a master pay scale similar to the civil service.
It includes a contract gratuity, retention incentives and, for teachers recruited from overseas, a special allowance that can be used to cover moving, housing and medical costs.
Under the traditional system, salaries range from HK$35,080 to HK$67,850 for primary school teachers, and up to HK$81,510 for educators in secondary schools, with the special allowance set at HK$20,989 per month.
The contract gratuity for the first and second two-year employment periods is 10 per cent of the total salary, increasing to 15 per cent after four years.

“If schools adopt the ‘cost-saving’ model, this will logically lead to a lowering of standards among native-speaking teachers,” Monks said.
“Coming to Hong Kong and leaving behind family and friends is a big decision. Hong Kong may not be able to attract the best talent, and schools may have to settle for less qualified, less experienced and less motivated staff.”
Monks stressed that the master pay scale rewarded experience and qualifications through incremental progression.
“A capped, annually negotiated grant model may not offer the same long-term professional security or recognition of experience,” he said.
He added that some experienced NETs had told him that their contracts were not renewed after the schools adopted the new scheme.
“Over time, this could shift the profile of NETs towards less experienced or less formally qualified candidates,” he said.
A check of three major online job platforms showed almost all of the 30-plus primary and secondary schools hiring NETs for the next academic year had adopted the new scheme. Fewer than five were offering positions under the traditional pay model.
The SCMP earlier reported that 28 primary schools and 45 secondary ones had already switched to the new scheme.
Of them, seven primary schools and 21 secondary ones had uploaded their plans online, offering an average monthly pay of HK$37,500 and HK$46,600 respectively.
A native English-speaking teacher working under the traditional scheme for 12 years said his school informed him it would switch to the new model next year.
“[We] have had the rug of ‘life as we know it’ pulled out from under us,” he told the South China Morning Post, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“As I scramble to find a new posting under the old NET scheme to keep my family here, I have to be diligent and carefully screen advertisements.”
Under the new scheme, he would also have to take the International English Language Testing System and achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.5, including a 7.5 or above in the speaking portion, out of a maximum score of nine.
“Do not even get me started on the ridiculous notion that I will take an English proficiency test to join the grant scheme NETs after serving Hong Kong for 12 years as a NET,” he said.


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Education in Hong Kong

New pay model for native English-speaking teachers risks lowering standards: group

Most public primary and secondary schools seeking NETs have decided to switch to the flexible scheme. Photo: Getty Images

The SCMP earlier reported that 28 primary schools and 45 secondary ones had already switched to the new scheme. Photo: Getty Images

73 public schools join new scheme to hire native English-speaking teachers

The Education Bureau says the new scheme offers more hiring flexibility. Photo: Shutterstock

The original NET scheme was implemented in 1998-99 in secondary schools. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong to scrap retention bonus, cut gratuity for newly hired native English teachers

The current scheme was launched in the 1998-99 academic year for secondary schools and in 2002-03 for primary institutions. Photo: May Tse

About 850 NETs were working in public-sector schools in the 2024-25 year. Photo: Handout

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Head of association for teachers says shift to lower packages may lead to educators with less experience and motivation


Head of association for teachers says shift to lower packages may lead to educators with less experience and motivation.


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New pay model for native English-speaking teachers risks lowering standards: group

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Head of association for teachers says shift to lower packages may lead to educators with less experience and motivation

Head of association for teachers says shift to lower packages may lead to educators with less experience and motivation