A selection of the latest education news and jobs from around the world:
Editorial
From speaking one-on-one with teachers in Hong Kong, PGCE Jobs has found that there is a curious trend of qualified educators moving to western countries and not planning on teaching after they immigrate. This is despite the UK government, for one, altering its rules to allow qualified educators from other countries to automatically gain professional recognition in the UK. The UK government could be doing more to support qualified migrants in wanting to teach in Britain, rather than leaving it to chance that they might seize the moment to switch professions. So what could be done?
One of the concerns that educators have is that the standard salary for teachers is inadequate for living in the UK. Teacher salaries in the UK are lower than Hong Kong’s, and the perception of inadequacy has significant merit when factoring in the higher tax-burden that UK educators have relative to those in the HKSAR. However, by the time educators are in stable employment, the salary is sufficient to open a business, take out a mortgage, or support other family priorities that matter to Hong Kongers, such as funding private education.
The UK government therefore needs to strategize a means for incoming educators to get into a situation where they can feasibly take out a loan. One approach for this could be to establish a fund that enables signing bonuses for qualified educators choosing to join schools when coming to the UK. While not all educators will necessarily stay in schools following the completion of their initial teaching contract, there is a higher chance that those immigrating would settle into the British lifestyle and sign permanent teaching contracts than if they have no other incentive to do so.
Money isn’t everything in life, yet a good standard of living depends on some degree of stability. With inflation rising, taxes rising, and a reduced population size in the millennial generation, there are several economic factors that could go against those moving to the UK in the coming years. Hong Kong, with its debtless financial position, has the high ground in terms of economic stability — and, in the long run, it might attract back many of its citizens for that reason.
Current Jobs (@pgcejobs.com)
The Royal Grammar School Guildford Qatar – Primary Teacher
Swanlea School, London – Teacher of History
North Point Chinese Methodist School, Hong Kong – NET (non-EDB)
International School of Lausanne – IBDP Physics and IBMYP Science
Loreto Sixth Form College – Teacher of Psychology
Sharjah British International School – Teacher of Islamic Studies
Xianggang Putonghua Yanxishe Primary School of Science and Creativity, Hong Kong – School-based NET
Harrow International School Shenzhen – Early Years Class Teacher
Newcastle Sixth Form College – Spanish Teacher
Future Tense Human Resources – Nursery Teacher
Ju Ching Chu Secondary School, Tuen Mun – EDB NET
Selwyn Hall School, Cambridge – Headteacher
GEMS Wellington Academy, Al Khail – Teacher of History
Petchey Academy, London – Religious Studies Teacher
Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hill – Physics Teacher (IBMYP / IBDP)
News
Around Africa
Children in Africa are 5 times less likely to learn the basics
Australia
Government starts campaign to bring ‘respect’ back to teaching
China
US embassy welcomes Chinese students to study overseas
Dubai and the UAE
1st UAE female leaders summit: empowerment, education and technology
Around the EU
It’s not just childcare: focus on early years education sets Estonia apart
Hong Kong
Trends and opportunities in Hong Kong education
India
Ministry of Education: over 20,000 schools closed from 2020-21, and teaching workforce declined ~2%
Russia
Popular YouTuber on what Russia teaches its kids
Ukraine
Education unionists from the USA and Poland meet with colleagues in Ukraine
United Kingdom
90% of schools will run out of money next year
United States
The alarming state of the American student in 2022
