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Originally Posted by Unregistered
(Post 34472)
Not disputing the majority of what you've said (generally - if joining teaching, be prepared to retire at GEO1A3 (currently capped at $7.4k) as a teacher. Anything more would be if you really show aptitude for the job - and for the leadership track, the ability to run a department and run projects would probably count for more than just actual teaching ability.
That said, a 'Senior Teacher' is definitely not 'the same' as a 'Teacher' - yes, they usually aren't that involved in admin/leadership stuff, but the expectation is really to be secure in their teaching in the classroom, and to be able to help mentor their colleagues. Their maximum payscale is also higher (SEO1, currently capped at $8.3k). Not exactly that much higher, but it is officially recognised by MOE in terms of both jobscope and remuneration.
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I know where you are coming from, but this is a very ops way of looking at things. You are looking at things in a very by the book junior level staff way but not from a policy and strategic perspective.
I never disputed that payscales and official job levels are different b/w Snr Teacher and Teacher. I am trying to explain to you and the rest what goes on in the mind of the policy makers. All these supposed paysclaes and job levels are just standard tricks HR pros use to market to you guys.
The biggest clue that these supposed different payscales are fake and just artificially created is the fact that the cap b/w Teacher and Snr Teacher is a mere $900 as you admit yourself. In principle, MOE could have just set the payscale for teachers to be $3000 - $8300 depending on seniority. Why create levels that overlap each other to such an extent that we end up with this comical scenario where a Snr Teacher max pay is only $900 more than a Teacher?
Another clue to this is MOE's setting of payscales. If MOE policy makers really sincerely believe that a Snr Teacher is so different and higher level than a Teacher, would they have come up with such a payscale that is almose 90% overlap with Teachers? Look at what they do, not what they say.
Mentoring juniors is kind of expected in any place, both public and private sector. This by itself does not differentiate the core job scope per se.
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(In fact, it's not uncommon for HODs/SHs/LHs to convert to be an ST if they prefer focusing on classroom teaching, especially since it allows them to retain their SEO payscale.)
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Yes this is the sort of official face saving thing everyone says when they lost out in the game, i.e. I wana go back teaching. Some are probably sincerely passionate about teaching and really want to go back, but I know for sure many others who lost out and got thrown back unwillingly. I cannot reveal my sources, but I personally know of at least 2 SH and 1 HOD who are like that.
Am I saying these people are bad eggs? No, not at all. They just happen to lost out in the game and got the "cold palace" treatment. In fact I applaud MOE for actually giving an avenue where these people can retire gracefully despite losing the competition. The private sector is much more brutal and losing politics can be followed by an unceremonious booting out or public humiliation.
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I don't actually know what a 'Curriculum Head' is, don't have any in my school - from what I know, MOE only recognises Level & Subject Heads, so CH might be an unofficial appointment like level coordinator? Not recognised by MOE? Then yes, extra work, no extra rewards. That said, in some schools it might actually be a stepping stone (sign that you have been identified as higher potential) - if the school has the practice of promoting from within, then these guys holding 'extra duties' are usually the ones who will be promoted next. Actual practice differs from school to school, of course.
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Yes this CH thing is still being piloted in only few schools. My MOE source tells me that they have done a review and concluded that the current teaching track is still not cut fine enough to ensure frequent "promotion". He suspects that MOE might further fine cut the existing pay sclaes and job levels by creating another 1 or 2 fake "promotions" and this CH thing seems to be the direction they will go in the future.