NET turnover at schools falls to lowest in a decade

The turnover rate of native English-speaking teachers (NETs) in city schools fell to the lowest in a decade last year after authorities scrapped all pandemic-related travel restrictions.

The rate in primary schools fell from 18 per cent in 2021-22 to 9 per cent in the last academic year, while the figure for secondary institutions dropped from 16 per cent to 7 per cent, according to data submitted by the Education Bureau to the Legislative Council.

“The attrition rate has decreased significantly in the 2022-23 school year. Overall, there is no shortage of NETs at this stage,” the bureau said in a reply to the legislature.

The primary school rate was the same as in 2015-16. The figure for secondary schools was the lowest since 2013-14.

The turnover rate refers to the percentage of teachers who opted to leave the NET scheme for reasons other than retirement out of the total number of such educators who completed their contracts during the school year.

Currently, about 800 NETs are employed under the official scheme, which has been in place since 1998 and provides one position in every school.

The turnover rate rose to a record high in 2021-22, which was largely attributed to the impact of the city’s strict travel restrictions and quarantine requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the scheme, in addition to the basic salary, NETs are entitled to various benefits, including an allowance of HK$20,989 per month, a medical allowance, gratuities and retention incentives.

“The remuneration package is able to attract NETs to join and encourage them to remain in the profession, which is considered very attractive,” the bureau said.

NETs have a starting pay of HK$34,040, rising to a maximum of HK$79,135 for those teaching in secondary schools and HK$65,875 for those in primary institutions. The starting and maximum points are reviewed annually.

The number of non-local students in international schools also increased in the last academic year following the lifting of travel restrictions early last year.

According to the bureau, 27,390 non-local pupils are currently studying at 53 international schools, up from 26,768 in 202223, which was the lowest on record. But their proportion among all pupils in those schools has continued to shrink in recent years, from 74.1 per cent in 201920 to 65.1 per cent in the current school year, a record low.

The figures show the international school sector has been admitting more local pupils in the past five academic years, from about 10,600 to 14,700, an increase of nearly 40 per cent.

The bureau said as of February, 56,121 children under the age of 18 had been permitted to come to the city as dependents under various talent admission schemes in 2023-24. But authorities said they did not have the statistics on the number of such children studying in the city as schools did not need to report to the government to admit them.

So Ping-fai, head of Tin Shui Wai Methodist Primary School and chairman of the Subsidised Primary Schools Council, said most NETs had quit two years ago because of the strict travel restrictions and were eager to return to their hometowns, but the situation became stable after the relevant restrictions were lifted.