Graduate Teacher Posts in Aided Secondary Schools

Background

It has all along been the Government’s target to achieve the all-graduate teaching force.  In order to raise the professional status and professional standards of teachers for enhancement of the overall quality of education, the ratio of graduate teacher posts in secondary schools was increased to 80% and 85% in the 2008/09 school year and the 2009/10 school year respectively.

The Government announced in the Chief Executive’s 2017 Policy Address that an in-depth review would be carried out on the professional development of teachers. The EDB set up the Task Force on Professional Development of Teachers (the Task Force) in November 2017 to review and further promote teachers’ professional development, which includes the drawing up of a timetable for an all-graduate teaching force and proposing directional recommendations. Based on the results of the extensive consultation, the Task Force has comprehended the views and rationale in the sector for the full implementation of the all-graduate teaching force policy as soon as possible, and considered carefully whether the pace of implementation could match the professional development of teachers and readiness of schools. After in-depth discussions, the Task Force recommended that the policy on an all-graduate teaching force should be implemented as soon as practicable so as to raise the professional status of teachers, retain and attract talents into the teaching profession, and enhance the quality of education. The Government accepted the recommendation of the Task Force and the Chief Executive announced in the 2018 Policy Address that the all-graduate teaching force policy would be implemented in public sector primary and secondary schools in one go in the 2019/20 school year. Schools may, taking into account their school-based circumstances, achieve full implementation in two years by the 2020/21 school year.

• Roles and duties of different ranks in the graduate grade 
• Teaching staff establishment in aided secondary schools
• Teaching staff establishment for secondary section of aided special schools 
• Forms on "Regrading to Graduate Teachers in Secondary Schools"
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Powerpoint slides of the briefing session on 3 April 2019: (1) Policy Highlights (2) Analysis of FAQs  (applicable to aided secondary, caput and special schools)

Reference Materials

• EDB Circular No. 11/2019 on "An All-graduate Teaching Force in Aided Schools"
• EDB Circular No. 30/2000 on "Promotion, Acting Appointment, Regrading of Teachers/Specialists and Passage over Efficiency Bar of Specialist Staff in Aided Schools"
• Code of Aid for Secondary Schools

     - Sections 59-60 on "Promotion and Regrading"

     - Appendix 2 on "Staff Establishment of Aided Secondary Schools"

     - Appendix 4/Attachment D-E on "Guides to Appointment"

• Code of Aid for Special Schools

     - Sections 65-66 on "Promotion and Regrading"

     - Appendix 2 on "Staff Establishment"

     - Appendix 4/Attachment D-E on "Guides to Appointment" 

•  Section 7.2 of School Administration Guide on "Appointment, Regrading, Promotion and Acting Appointment" 
• Guide to Salary Assessment for Aided Secondary Schools