A selection of the latest education news and jobs from around the world:
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Editorial
The education system in Hong Kong is under increasing strain as the Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools have this week asked the government to ‘plug the brain drain’. While the most meaningful actions are likely to be unpalatable given the CE’s obligations to Beijing, there are some rational things that could be done to fix the current teacher exodus.
One measure that can be taken is to relax border restrictions to align with the rest of the world’s standards. Mandatory quarantine upon entry into Hong Kong has kept the city out-of-step with the freedoms that have returned elsewhere. If you are a teacher in the city, the holiday period does not offer a realistic opportunity to travel for relaxation as long as the quarantine remains in place. Jobs in other countries, even menial ones, thereby have more attractive holiday benefits until the current restrictions are rolled back.
The second measure would be to offer an extended rest period for educators who have remained in their jobs throughout the recent upheavals. Since the pandemic began, teachers have been in a cycle of work and self-isolation. The only way to break out of this ungratifying situation has been to resign from your job. The emotionally intelligent leadership route to take would be to reward loyal teachers with time off that can raise their quality of life.
Demographically, the teaching profession in Hong Kong should experience a wave of retirement around the year 2030, as 1/4 of the city’s populous will pass the age of 65. It is key now for the government to attract teachers into the profession and reward those who have stayed in it, or the current problems will only be the tip of the iceberg.
Current Jobs (@pgcejobs.com)
Newton International School Lagoon – School Counsellor
CCC Kei Long College – EDB NET
Ark Global Academy – Exams and Data Officer
Christian Alliance College – Secondary NET Teacher
Haberdashers’ Crayford Academy – Teacher of English
Queen Elizabeth School Old Students Association – School-based NET
Mesaieed International School – Arabic and Islamic Studies Teacher
Sunmarke School Dubai – Primary EAL Teacher
The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls – SEN Learning Support Assistant
West Yas Academy, Abu Dhabi – Head of Science
Doha Academy – Primary Class Teacher
Caritas Wu Cheng-chung Secondary School – Native-speaking English Teacher
St. Catherine’s International Kindergarten & Nursery – Native-speaking English Teachers
Eccles Sixth Form College – Teacher of Business
News
Around Africa
Young African women facing education barriers
Australia
Progress towards improved learning outcomes ‘disappointing’, report finds
China
A look at what international schools in China are doing
Welshwoman finds home bridging the education gap for 21 years in Weifang
Dubai and the UAE
Dubai ranked as the best student city in the Middle East
Around the EU
French schools must teach about gender and sexuality, Ndiaye says
Hong Kong
Patriotic education should be 1/4 of the primary curriculum, EDB says
International universities may not recognize new subject that replaces Liberal Studies
The significance of this story is that many mainland Chinese families moved to Hong Kong in previous decades largely because the HK education system provides better access to international university placements than mainland equivalents. The abolition of LS could lead to students, who have spent their early life in HK to get to overseas universities, having a significantly reduced chance of gaining entry because of the curriculum change. A twist of fate.
Hong Kong Principals ask government to plug teaching brain drain
The article says that the loss of school staff has been ‘worse than reported’.
India
India’s education tech giant struggles with math
Russia
Patriotic education criticised for limiting freedom of speech in classrooms
Ukraine
Teachers of the Russian curriculum captured in reclaimed territory, facing 12 years in prison
United Kingdom
Gordonstoun: the school that educated a king
Scotland largest teachers union backs strike action
Teachers at Future Academies to go on strike
United States
Columbia University admits to reporting inaccurate data for college rankings
