Uneducated teachers

[AmyH]

Let's remember that Ian Huntley had background checks done on him.

The rules changed because of this case. Although he had checks done on him, they were in a different police district and at the time police did not share information to other forces. This is not the case any more. I have experience in this as I worked for the CRB after the Huntley case.

I never said that UK schools were better than HK schools. I did say that it is better to have qualified teachers than non qualified teachers.

I really hate having to pay the money we do here to put my son in school, but for the money we do pay, the least they can provide the students is qualified teachers. I would have loved to put my son in to a local school but it was not possible as neither myself or my husband speak cantonese or mandarin and would be unable to help him with his studies.

 

[AmyH]

Also, don't talk about the UK as though ..., it's like everyone has rose tinted glasses and forgets about huge classroom sizes, unqualified teaching assistants left on their own for days, violence, drugs, etc, etc.

Please do not even try to tell me that Hong Kong is exempt from all of the above..... I do believe that you may have borrowed my rose tinted glasses if you think this!

 

[thanka2]

I have to say that in my experience in both the HK primary and secondary schools I've met plenty of teachers who were "qualified" on paper to teach but were not good teachers at all. Conversely, I've met teachers who didn't hold the highest credentials but who had a knack for teaching and were much more "qualified" in my opinion. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with being fully qualified (or working toward it) for the position you're in but as a parent I would rather sit and watch the teacher in action and decide for myself whether or not he or she is "qualified." A piece of paper doesn't tell me much, honestly.

 

[AmyH]

I have to say that in my experience in both the HK primary and secondary schools I've met plenty of teachers who were "qualified" on paper to teach but were not good teachers at all. Conversely, I've met teachers who didn't hold the highest credentials but who had a knack for teaching and were much more "qualified" in my opinion. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with being fully qualified (or working toward it) for the position you're in but as a parent I would rather sit and watch the teacher in action and decide for myself whether or not he or she is "qualified." A piece of paper doesn't tell me much, honestly.

Would you apply the same rules for a doctor? Again, I never said that all qualified teachers were great but it should be a minimum requirement before you can teach children as far as I am concerned.

 

[thanka2]

Would you apply the same rules for a doctor? Again, I never said that all qualified teachers were great but it should be a minimum requirement before you can teach children as far as I am concerned.

Again, I would judge everything on a case-by-case basis, honestly. I think that the evidence speaks for itself, regardless of what the paper says. And, again, I say this because I've witnessed far too many "qualified" teachers who were anything but in reality. I think that experience and heart make a bigger difference than anything--especially at the kindergarten and primary level. Yes, it would be nice if every teacher in HK held a high qualification but that's not the reality and honestly, it doesn't bother me all that much.

 

[carang]

a lack of cantonese does not exempt you from using local schools. There is one in sai kung that is designated as a school for non-chinese speaking children. We have enrolled our son in it as have many other expats in sai kung. there are more of these schools around, you just have to look for them.
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[TheQuasimother]

Cara, which school is that? It's almost impossible to know from the EDB website. And, is there any learning support for non-Cantonese speakers at that school?

 

[carang]

lee siu yam memorial. It is right next to the public pool along the waterfront.

No school fees. Homework help after school if you want it. You choose chinese, cantonese or madarin. Mathematics, you choose english or cantonese. Other subjects are english.
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[TheQuasimother]

Thanks! Definitely worth looking into! It would save us HEAPS!

 

[AmyH]

a lack of cantonese does not exempt you from using local schools. There is one in sai kung that is designated as a school for non-chinese speaking children. We have enrolled our son in it as have many other expats in sai kung. there are more of these schools around, you just have to look for them.
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If we were planning on staying permanently in hong kong that would definitely be something that we would look in to for our children, but at the moment our plan is to go back to the UK while my son and daughter are both still in school. These types of school would be perfect for us as my biggest gripe about us being here is the cost of schools!