[appletree1]

Hello,
I read in the papers that there is an online campaign by parents regarding the ESF fees increase.
The online campaign was created by Albert T Yeung.

Does anyone know the adress of the web?
thanks

[KnowItAll]

Not heard about it .. but whats the point, I think the ESF management knows very well that almost all the parents are against the rise, considering their lack of transparency and the surplus they have accumulated.

Or is this related to getting the govt to increase their grants?

[PerryCo]

I think the ESF fee increase is acceptable. Education costs, and good schools are expensive. I don't think the increase is too much, and I don't think they will be rolled back.

[KnowItAll]

PerryCo - agree... but there is a lot the ESF can do to get the govt to increase its subsidies and grants.

There are LOTS of middle class expats who are currently being hit by rising rentals, food and other costs and of all the areas, education is one area that I believe the govt has done a pretty bad job.

[gilleshk]

ESF has some of the highest paid teachers in HK and frankly, I don't think they deserve a subsidy from the government. As an English colony, the government had a duty to provide good and affordable education in English but that's not the case anymore. ESF is now essentially a private school for the elite just as other International Schools and parents need to pay for that.

Most other International Schools have been raising fees as they've had to raise salaries due to the drop in the HK/US dollars in regards to other currency as well as the higher cost of properties in the last couple of years.

As for the large accumulated surplus, it's good management to keep it for "rainy" days and ESF has expanded with the addition of Renaissance and Discovery College which offer something new to parents.

[KnowItAll]

>> ESF has some of the highest paid teachers in HK

Having said that, there is absolutely no substitute for an experienced educator and the ESF should ensure that they do not loose them. There is a lot of pressure on the ESF due to higher salaries being offered in the Middle East and rest of Asia.

All it takes is one bad / unqualified and unmotivated teacher to scar a kid about a subject ...

I know a few ESF staff who are being pushed out of the areas that they teach in, as the rental costs have spiraled over the last few years. They are solid educators with track record. The ESF (which owns a number of apartments across HK) does very little to subsidize their housing or provide them with options which allow them to continue living in the community that they work in.

The "most other international schools" argument is ok, except that most of us who send their kids to the ESF might simply not be able to afford those other schools in the first place.

Somewhere, someone at a higher pay grade than me needs to find a solution.

[gilleshk]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

>> ESF has some of the highest paid teachers in HK

Having said that, there is absolutely no substitute for an experienced educator and the ESF should ensure that they do not loose them. There is a lot of pressure on the ESF due to higher salaries being offered in the Middle East and rest of Asia.

All it takes is one bad / unqualified and unmotivated teacher to scar a kid about a subject ...

I know a few ESF staff who are being pushed out of the areas that they teach in, as the rental costs have spiraled over the last few years. They are solid educators with track record. The ESF (which owns a number of apartments across HK) does very little to subsidize their housing or provide them with options which allow them to continue living in the community that they work in.

The "most other international schools" argument is ok, except that most of us who send their kids to the ESF might simply not be able to afford those other schools in the first place.

Somewhere, someone at a higher pay grade than me needs to find a solution.

I realize that this causes unfortunate situations for some parents but the duty of the government is to fund the public system and not a private one that caters to less than 10% of the population.

There are public schools where the language of instruction is English and you won't find too many places around the world where the State funds a private system such as ESF.

As to the money=good teacher argument, I've always found that argument a little offensive to the hundreds of other teachers that are paid less in other International Schools around Hong Kong and around the world. Does that make them inferior?

Since ESF has been paying teachers more than other schools, does it mean it has the best teachers of all the schools in HK? I think the teachers at CIS, HKIS, German Swiss, CDNIS etc... would have something to say about that...

One can argue(and the ESF management has) that having a reasonable turnover rate is healthy to schools and it brings fresh new blood and new ideas. Teaching is not always an easy profession and losing a teacher of 30 years experience for one that has 10 isn't necessarily always a bad thing.

Even after cuts, ESF teachers are some of the best paid in the world...

[KnowItAll]

Absolutely not saying that money = quality. All I'm saying is that they need to ensure that they don't loose the few good educators they have left.

About the public system - its in shambles. Local parents who can afford to pay or game the system are sending their kids to places like the ESF.

I'm not saying its the govt's duty to subsidize what is a colonial legacy. What I'd want them to do is put forward a policy which allows middle class expats to continue living and working in HK and ensuring that their kids are well educated too.

[gilleshk]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

Absolutely not saying that money = quality. All I'm saying is that they need to ensure that they don't loose the few good educators they have left.

About the public system - its in shambles. Local parents who can afford to pay or game the system are sending their kids to places like the ESF.

There are plenty of good teachers left in the ESF system and there are even more great ones that are waiting in the wings to replace the ones leaving... yes some really good people many of them friends of mine have left to go on to other places but that's the way life goes in HK...

I have personally steered several outstanding teachers that are starting next school year. All of them with more than 10 years international experience.

Once again, other schools are and have been recruiting outstanding teachers with lesser salary packages. It's an insult to them to use that argument.

As to local schools, there are good ones but it's not easy to get in and there are obviously big problems with the public system which is why virtually all International Schools are thriving in HK.

I find it unfortunate for parents that are having financial difficulties but I think ESF has been doing what it needed to do and so does the government.

[PerryCo]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

PerryCo - agree... but there is a lot the ESF can do to get the govt to increase its subsidies and grants.

There are LOTS of middle class expats who are currently being hit by rising rentals, food and other costs and of all the areas, education is one area that I believe the govt has done a pretty bad job.

Thanks for the reply. And you hit the real nail on the head: prices in Hong Kong are sky-high and not the fault of the schools, but government (Tangs) that refuse to admit inflation is Number One in HK. I have a friend who has operated a salon in Kennedy Town for over 20 years, and he told me last month his rent was doubled to $50,000 month in April. He is now considering shutting down because his business is also down. It is not the only case where rising rents and property values have soared out of sight.

Education should be a priority, but like another on here said, good teachers need a good salary to live in HK. Where will it end?