Union claims 40pc of teachers want to quit

About 40 percent of teachers in Hong Kong plan to or want to leave the profession, with most blaming increasing political pressure for their exodus, a Professional Teachers' Union survey shows.

They include 20 percent who have plans to leave already, and another 20 percent who want to do so, but have not got any plans in place for the time being.

The PTU interviewed 1,178 teachers and headmasters from kindergartens, primary, secondary and disabled schools from April 29 to May 5 this year.

It found about 20 percent plan to resign or file for early retirement.

Among those who wish to leave, 133 or about 10 percent will have left by the end of this school year. Another 85 people plan to do so in the coming two school years.

A majority said they wanted to leave due to increasing political pressure on them. Others cited dissatisfaction with Hong Kong's general situation and its education policy.

Some teachers also wanted to leave because they were not paid as well as other professions, and believed the job lacks challenge and satisfaction.

But 704 respondents said they would like to stay in the Hong Kong education sector and nearly 60 percent said they would like to stay in the city to be with their families.

Some also said they did not have enough money to immigrate, while others said it is their duty to educate the next generation of Hongkongers.

"What would happen to students if all teachers choose to leave the city?" one teacher said.

The survey also found that about 48 percent of primary school directors and 51 percent of secondary school directors are planning to leave.

The union said nearly 48 percent of respondents who have 21 to 30 years of experience in education would like to leave, sparking concerns of possible manpower shortages in mid-level positions.

A former education lawmaker and PTU vice president, Ip Kin-yuen, urged the Education Bureau to improve the education environment to attract teachers to stay at Hong Kong schools.

"A stable teaching team is extremely important to maintain the quality of teaching and to pass on the experience, and it's worrisome that there might be a shortage in mid-level teaching staff in the future," Ip said.

"The government must listen to teachers' advice and improve its education policies. Otherwise, there will be a constant brain drain from school teaching teams, which is a great loss to the education sector and to Hong Kong as a whole."

Union president Fung Wai-wah said the survey reflected teachers' dissatisfaction with Hong Kong's social environment and education policies.

Some front-line teachers have complained that pro-establishment lawmakers have put more pressure on them by attacking the liberal studies subject and suggesting the installation of surveillance cameras in classrooms, Fung said.

He urged the authority and those lawmakers to stop increasing political pressure on schools and allow them to provide students with a suitable education without being influenced by political factors.

The exodus from government-subsidized schools comes as the number of dropouts surged this year, while professionals including doctors, nurses and lawyers head for the exit after the implementation of the national security law.

Elite schools are now recruiting more transfer students due to the immigration trend.

Ying Wa College is recruiting two to 10 students in all grades.

St Stephen's College also provides about 10 positions for secondary four transfer students.