24 November 2007
MOE welcomes suitably qualified relief teachers
- We would like to assure Mr Fok ("Shocking this parity for degree, non-degree holders", 16/11) that the Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to recruit suitably qualified teachers to the service. In filling short term classroom vacancies, schools can draw from the pool of adjunct teachers who left the education service previously. They can also hire contract and relief teachers.
- We welcome candidates with suitable qualifications to apply for relief teacher positions. All applicants need to have the requisite content knowledge to deliver effective lessons to our children. They are also interviewed by the schools to assess their suitability for teaching. As pointed out by Mr Fok, it is an avenue to expose suitably qualified candidates who are keen to pursue a career in the Education Service. Good candidates who are suitable for full-time teaching may then be appointed as contract teachers on a one-year teaching contract before they are confirmed for permanent teaching positions and sent to the National Institute of Education for training.
- Mr Fok was concerned about relief teachers who are 'fresh out of junior college'. Such students can be good relief teachers as they usually return to their alma maters to teach, and hence would be those that schools know are good and suitable. Relief teachers are briefed by the Principal or a senior teacher on areas such as the school's expectations and the code of conduct. They can also attend a workshop conducted by MOE on classroom management techniques.
- We thank Mr Fok for his feedback and apologise for the misunderstanding on wage rates. Candidates with suitable graduate qualifications are paid differently from non-graduates. The wage range is reflected on MOE's Relief Teaching website.
Lu Cheng Yang
Director, Personnel Division
Ministry of Education
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