(a) Laboratory Technicians II/III for science laboratories may be appointed on the following scale :
Number of Laboratories Number of Laboratory Technicians
1 1
2 2
3 3
(b) In schools for the hearing impaired with up to 17 classes, an additional Laboratory Technician II/III may be appointed for the maintenance of audiological equipment and hearing aids. A second additional laboratory technician may be appointed in schools for the hearing impaired with 18 classes or more.
(c) In special schools with five or more laboratories in the secondary section, one of the laboratory technicians may be appointed at the Laboratory Technician I level.
(d) In a school for the hearing impaired with more than 17 classes, one of the laboratory technicians appointed for the maintenance of audiological
equipment and hearing aids may be appointed at the Laboratory Technician I level.
(e) In a school for the visually impaired (special school for the visually impaired with mental handicap excluded), a Laboratory Technician II/III may be appointed for the maintenance of special equipment/technical aids, and for providing technical assistance in setting up and operating the equipment.
2. Special School Social Worker
(a) Schools may appoint 0.5 special school social worker for every 35 students.
However, where a sponsor operates two or more special schools, the ratio of provision may be applied to the combined capacity of the schools as if they were a single school.
(b) Special school social workers should, in general, be ranked at the Senior Social Work Assistant level.
(c) Social workers in the following categories of special schools should be ranked at the Assistant Social Work Officer level, if graduate social workers are employed; or at the Senior Social Work Assistant level if the posts are filled by non-graduate social workers;
(i) schools for social development;
(ii) schools with senior secondary classes; or
(iii) schools where there are three or more professional disciplines (e.g.
speech therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses) in addition to teachers and social workers, and where the social workers are given the additional responsibilities of a rehabilitation coordinator
3. Speech Therapist (ST)
Schools for the hearing impaired, for the visually impaired with mental handicap, for children with physical disability, and for the mentally handicapped may appoint STs on the following scale:
Type of School No. of Classes No. of ST (i) Visual impairment with mental
handicap, Physical disability, Mild mental handicap, Moderate mental handicap, and Mild and moderate mental handicap
1 - 5 6 - 10 11 - 15 16 – 20
1 2 3 4
(ii) Severe mental handicap 1 - 5 6 - 10 11 - 15 16 - 20
1 2 2.5 3
Type of School No. of Classes No. of ST (iii) Hearing impairment 1 ST by offsetting 1 of the TAST
posts 4. Physiotherapist and Artisan
(a) Schools for children with physical disability and severe mental handicap may appoint 0.5 physiotherapist for every 15 students and one artisan to support every two physiotherapists.
(b) The Staff Structure for Physiotherapist (PT) should be as follows : Ranking of staff
No. of PTs entitled SPT PT I PT II
1 1 -
1.5 1 0.5
2 1 1
2.5 1 1.5
3 1 2
3.5 1 2.5
4 2 2
4.5 2 2.5
5 2 3
5.5 2 3.5
6 1 2 3
5. Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapy Assistant
(a) Schools for children with physical disability and severe mental handicap may appoint 0.5 occupational therapist and 0.5 occupational therapy assistant for every 15 students.
(b) The Staff Structure for Occupational Therapist (OT) should be as follows:
Ranking of staff
No. of OTs entitled SOT OT I OT II
1 1 -
1.5 1 0.5
2 1 1
2.5 1 1.5
3 1 2
3.5 1 2.5
4 2 2
4.5 2 2.5
5 2 3
5.5 2 3.5
6 1 2 3
6. Educational Psychologist
(a) Sponsoring bodies operating a minimum of 30 special school classes (except hospital schools) may appoint school-based educational psychologists. While each educational psychologist may serve more than one special school under a particular sponsor, he/she will be employed by and stationed at one of the schools and considered as a member of the non-teaching specialist staff of that school. Provision ratios for educational psychologists to be employed by special schools are as follows :
No. of Classes
Operated by the Same Sponsor Provisions of Psychologist(s)
30 - 59 1
60 - 99 2
100 - 139 3
140 - 179 4
(b) School-based educational psychologists should, in general, be ranked at Educational Psychologist I level. When fully qualified educational psychologists are not available in the job market, a candidate without a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and 6 years’ relevant experience may be appointed as Educational Psychologist II, should he/she meet the entry requirements for this rank.
7. School Nurse
Schools for children with physical disability, mental handicap and for the visually impaired with mental handicap may appoint full-time registered nurses on the following scale :
Type of School No. of
Students No. of School Nurses (i) Physical disability or Severe mental
handicap 40 – 129
130 or more 1
2 (ii) Mild mental handicap, Moderate
mental handicap, Combined mild and moderate mental handicap, or Visual impairment with mental handicap
40 or more 1
8. Clerical Staff
Schools may appoint clerical staff on the following scale for the calculation of the amount of Administration Grant or the Revised Administration Grant as appropriate payable to it Note:
Note Schools that opt for the Administration Grant for their school section will pay the salaries of their clerical and janitor staff through the Administration Grant, and those that opt for the Revised Administration Grant will pay the salaries of their janitor staff through the Revised Administration
Student Capacity at Full Development No. of Clerical Staff up to 49 1 Clerical Assistant
50 - 99 1 Assistant Clerical Officer
100 - 149 1 Assistant Clerical Officer and 1 Clerical Assistant
150 or more 2 Assistant Clerical Officers 9. Brailling Staff
Schools for the visually impaired operating resource support programme for students with visual impairment may appoint brailling staff at the following scale:
No. of Students withVisual Impairment
registered under the Resource Support Programme Provision of Brailling Staff
8 0.5
16 1
10. Workshop Attendant
Schools may appoint one workshop attendant for each approved workshop.
11. Janitor Staff
Schools may appoint janitor staff on the following scale for the calculation of the amount of Administration Grant or the Revised Administration Grant as appropriate payable to itNote:
One-third janitor staff may be allowed for every operating class and approved special room. In schools for children with physical disability and severe mental handicap, 0.75 janitor staff may be allowed for every operating class and 0.5 for every approved special room. Fractional staff will be rounded up after summation.
12. Motor Driver
(a) Schools for children with visual impairment, physical disability, moderate and severe mental handicap, hearing impairment and schools for social development may appoint motor drivers for registered special school buses.
(b) Drivers who are required to drive a registered school bus with 30 or more seats will be appointed as Special Drivers. Those who are assigned to drive registered school buses with fewer than 30 seats will be appointed as Motor Drivers.
13. Teacher Assistant
Teacher Assistants may be appointed in the following categories of special schools at the ratio of 0.5 teacher assistant per class :
Grant and the actual salaries of the other staff through the Salaries Grant.
(a) schools for the severely mentally handicapped;
(b) school for the visually impaired with mental handicap;
(c) schools for children with physical disability;
(d) psychiatric units in hospital schools; and
(e) preparatory classes in schools for the hearing impaired and the school for the visually impaired.
BOARDING SECTION
All special schools with an approved boarding section subvented by the Education and Manpower Bureau is provided with the following staff :
1. Warden
(a) One warden may be appointed for the boarding section.
(b) The warden should, in general, be ranked at the Assistant Social Work Officer level.
(c) As an alternative rank for the warden grade, the post can be filled by non-graduate social workers at the Chief Social Work Assistant level for a boarding section with a capacity of 50 boarders and above, or the Senior Social Work Assistant level for a boarding section with a capacity of less than 50 boarders.
2. Assistant Warden
An assistant warden may be appointed among the approved establishment of houseparents and programme workers. The assistant warden should be ranked at the Senior Social Work Assistant level for a boarding section with a capacity of 50 boarders and above, and at the Social Work Assistant level for a boarding section with a capacity of less than 50 boarders.
3. Houseparent-in-charge
For a boarding section with a capacity of 50 boarders and above, a houseparent-in-charge may be appointed amongst every 4 posts of houseparent.
The houseparent-in-charge should be ranked at the Social Work Assistant level.
4. Houseparent *
Houseparents at Social Work Assistant level may be appointed on the following scale :
Categories of boarders Week-day
ratio Week-end & Sunday ratio (in addition to the week-day provision) Hearing impairment or
visual impairment 2 for
15 boarders 1.2 for 15 boarders Moderate mental
handicap 2 for
12 boarders 1.2 for 12 boarders Physical disability,
severe mental handicap, 2 for 1.2 for 8 boarders
severe mental handicap, or visual impairment with mental handicap
8 boarders
5. Programme Worker *
Programme workers at Social Work Assistant level may be appointed on the following scale :
Number of boarders For week-days For week-ends & Sundays (in addition to the week-day provision)
60 or less 1 0.5
61 to 120 2 1.0
121 or more 3 1.5
6. Nurse
Nurses may be appointed on the following scale :
Categories of boarders Week-day ratio Week-end & Sunday ratio (in addition to the week-day provision) Hearing impairment, Visual
impairment or Moderate mental handicap
1 Enrolled Nurse for
20 or more boarders 0.6 Enrolled Nurse for 20 or more boarders
Physical disability, Severe mental handicap, or Visual impairment with mental handicap
1 Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse for 25 boarders
0.6 Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse for 25 boarders
Where fractional staff results, this will be rounded up to the next whole number.
For boarding sections of special schools for (i) the moderately mentally handicapped, (ii) the severely mentally handicapped, (iii) children with physical disability or (iv) the visually impaired with mental handicap, the minimum provision will be one nurse at any one time during the operational hours of the boarding section irrespective of its size.
7. Clerical Staff
One clerical assistant may be appointed for each boarding section for the calculation of the amount of Administration Grant or the Revised Administration Grant as appropriate payable to it Note.
8. Cook
Cooks may be appointed on the following scale :
Note Schools that opt for the Administration Grant for their boarding section will pay the salaries of their clerical and janitor staff through the Administration Grant, and those that opt for the Revised Administration Grant will pay the salaries of their janitor staff through the Revised Administration Grant and the actual salaries of the other staff through the Salaries Grant.
Number of boarders Number of cooks
39 or less 2
40 – 79 3
80 or more 4
9. Watchman
Two watchmen may be appointed for each boarding section.
10. Janitor Staff *
Janitor staff may be allowed on the following scale for the calculation of the amount of Administration Grant or the Revised Administration Grant as appropriate payable to the school’s boarding section Note:
Categories of boarders Week-day ratio
Week-end & Sunday ratio (in addition to the week-day provision) Hearing impairment One for 20 or
fewer boarders 0.6 for 20 or fewer boarders
Visual impairment or
Moderate mental handicap One for 15 or
fewer boarders 0.6 for 15 or fewer boarder Physical disability, Severe
mental handicap, or Visual impairment with mental handicap
One for 10 or
fewer boarders 0.6 for 10 or fewer boarders
* In calculating the number of staff for houseparent, programme workers and janitor staff, individual fractions of these three grades will be added together and the fraction resulting, if any, will be rounded up to the next whole number. Posts created after summation and rounding up of the fraction may be appointed as houseparent/programme worker/janitor staff at the discretion of the school to meet operational needs.
Section 1C / Attachment A Ranking of Principal of Special School
A. Special Schools with Combined Levels or Secondary Classes Only
1. The ranking of Principals of aided special schools with combined levels or secondary classes only is determined on the basis of the number of equivalent full-streamed ordinary secondary classes worked out according to the following weighting system and relativity ratio :
(a) Weighting system
(i) 1 special primary class = 0.6 full-streamed special secondary class
(ii) 1 special junior secondary class = 0.8 full-streamed special secondary class
(iii) 1 special senior secondary class = 1 full-streamed special secondary class
(b) Relativity of ranking of Principal between special schools and ordinary schools :
A school with 18 equivalent full-streamed special secondary classes = a school with 24 ordinary secondary classes
2. The converted number of equivalent ordinary secondary classes, with fractional numbers rounded down, will determine the ranking of Principal for a special school in accordance with the following scale :
Number of equivalent full-streamed
ordinary secondary classes Ranking of Principal 24 or more Principal II (Pr II)/** Principal I (Pr I)
15 to 23 Principal II (Pr II)
14 or less Principal Graduate Master/Mistress (PGM) Where fractional class results, this will be rounded down.
** Principal I (Pr I) post will only be provided for special schools operating senior secondary class(es) with 24 or more equivalent full-streamed ordinary secondary classes.
B. Primary Special Schools
1. The ranking of Principals of aided primary special schools is determined by the number of equivalent ordinary primary classes worked out according to the following relativity ratio :
A school with 18 special primary classes = a school with 24 ordinary primary classes
2. The converted number of equivalent ordinary primary classes, with fractional numbers rounded down, will determine the ranking of Principal for a special school in accordance with the following scale :
Number of equivalent
ordinary primary classes Ranking of Principal
24 or more Principal Assistant Master/Mistress (PAM)
or Headmaster/Headmistress I (HM I)
12 to 23 Senior Assistant Master/Mistress (SAM) or Headmaster/Headmistress II (HM II)
* 4 to 11 Assistant Master/Mistress (AM)
or Primary School Master/Mistress (PSM)
* The teaching staff establishment is inclusive of the Principal of a school (Assistant Master/Mistress or Primary School Master/Mistress level) with four equivalent ordinary primary classes.
Section 1C / Attachment B Teaching Staff Establishment for
Primary Classes in Special Schools
Total Staff Entitlement # Number of Posts in Each Rank
(Excluding Principal) * AM CM
1 - 1
2 - 2
3 1 2
4 1 3
5 1 4
6 1 5
7 2 5
8 2 6
9 2 7
10 2 8
11 3 8
12 3 9
13 3 10
14 3 11
15 4 11
16 4 12
17 4 13
18 4 14
19 5 14
20 5 15
21 5 16
22 5 17
23 6 17
24 6 18
25 6 19
26 6 20
27 7 20
28 7 21
29 7 22
30 7 23
31 8 23
32 8 24
33 8 25
34 8 26
35 9 26
36 9 27
37 9 28
38 9 29
39 10 29
40 10 30
41 10 31
42 10 32
43 11 32
44 11 33
45 11 34
46 11 35
47 12 35
48 12 36
Note :
# The respective numbers of senior teachers and teachers by rank (i.e. by PSM, AM, APSM and CM) entitled by a school should be determined in accordance with the grade structure it has adopted or as endorsed by the Education and Manpower Bureau as appropriate, subject to the total number of graduate teacher posts in the school not exceeding 35% of its teaching staff establishment.
* One of the senior teachers in the rank of Assistant Master/Mistress or Primary School Master/Mistress of a primary special school with 12 or more equivalent ordinary primary classes will serve as the Deputy Head.
1. The recommended grade structure is as follows :
(a) The headship and deputy headship posts should be at the graduate level;
(b) 35% of the senior teacher posts should be graduate teacher posts; and
(c) The remaining graduate posts should be allocated to the basic rank teacher level.
2. Notwithstanding (1) above, a school has the flexibility to determine an alternative grade structure, and the following should apply :
(a) Grade structure with the number of PSM posts not exceeding 50% of the total number of senior teacher posts
(i) The sponsor/Incorporated Management Committee should draw up a school-based grade structure after consulting the teaching staff.
(ii) The headship and the deputy headship posts should remain at the graduate level.
(iii) Flexibility may be allowed in determining the percentage of graduate posts in the senior teacher rank and the basic rank, subject to:
• The number of senior teachers at the graduate rank does not exceed the 50% limit; and
• The total number of senior teacher posts, graduate teacher posts and the staff entitlement in each school are not exceeded.
(iv) The sponsor/Incorporated Management Committee should inform the Education and Manpower Bureau of the grade structure and the reasons for adopting the structure. Any subsequent changes should be made six months before implementation, and the Education and Manpower Bureau should also be informed accordingly.
(b) Grade structure with the number of PSM posts exceeding 50% of the senior
teacher posts :
(i) The sponsor/Incorporated Management Committee should consult all the teaching staff and obtain their consensus before determining the grade structure.
(ii) The headship and the deputy headship posts should remain at the graduate level.
(iii) Flexibility may be allowed in determining the percentage of graduate posts in the senior teacher rank and the basic rank, subject to the total number of senior teacher posts, graduate teacher posts and the staff entitlement in each school not being exceeded.
(iv) The sponsor/Incorporated Management Committee should forward the proposed grade structure with justifications to the Education and Manpower Bureau for endorsement. It should also consult all the teaching staff and obtain their consensus before proposing any subsequent changes to the grade structure adopted six months in advance. Prior consent from the Education and Manpower Bureau should be obtained before implementation.
Section 1C / Attachment C Teaching Staff Establishment for Secondary Classes in
Special Schools without Senior Secondary Classes Total Staff No. of Posts in Each Rank
Entitlement Graduates Non-graduates
(Excluding
Principal) SGM GM Sub-total SAM AM CM Sub-total
1 - - - 1 1
2 - - - - 1 1 2
3 - - - 1 1 1 3
4 - 1 1 1 1 1 3
5 - 1 1 1 1 2 4
6 - 1 1 1 1 3 5
7 1 1 2 1 1 3 5
8 1 1 2 1 2 3 6
9 1 1 2 2 2 3 7
10 1 2 3 2 2 3 7
11 1 2 3 2 2 4 8
12 1 2 3 2 2 5 9
13 1 2 3 2 3 5 10
14 2 2 4 2 3 5 10
15 2 2 4 3 3 5 11
16 2 2 4 3 3 6 12
17 2 3 5 3 3 6 12
18 2 3 5 3 3 7 13
19 2 3 5 3 4 7 14
20 2 4 6 3 4 7 14
21 2 4 6 4 4 7 15
22 2 4 6 4 4 8 16
23 2 4 6 4 4 9 17
24 3 4 7 4 4 9 17
25 3 4 7 4 5 9 18
26 3 4 7 5 5 9 19
27 3 5 8 5 5 9 19
28 3 5 8 5 5 10 20
29 3 5 8 5 5 11 21
30 4 5 9 5 5 11 21
31 4 5 9 5 6 11 22
32 4 5 9 6 6 11 23
33 4 5 9 6 6 12 24
34 4 6 10 6 6 12 24
35 4 6 10 6 6 13 25
Note :
1. (a) A special school operating a secondary section and with 15 or more equivalent full-streamed ordinary secondary classes is entitled to two deputy heads at
Principal Graduate Master/Mistress (PGM) rank. One PGM post will be provided for every two Senior Graduate Master/Mistress (SGM) posts, offset by the deletion of one SGM post.
(b) If the number of SGM posts is insufficient to allow the provision of PGM posts to the maximum number entitled, one PAM post will be provided to serve as deputy head for every two SAM posts, offset by the deletion of one SAM post.
2. One post in the rank of SAM is upgraded to PAM for a special school operating a secondary section and with 24 or more equivalent full-streamed secondary classes with the functional duties of coordinating pastoral care and extra-curricular activities, and attending to the special needs of the students.
3. One post in the rank of Graduate Master/Mistress (GM) is upgraded to Senior Graduate Master/Mistress (SGM) in an aided special school operating 15 or more equivalent full-streamed ordinary secondary classes.
Section 1C / Attachment D Teaching Staff Establishment for Secondary Classes
in Special Schools Operating Secondary 1 - 5 Total Staff No. of Posts in Each Rank
Entitlement Graduates Non-graduates
(Excluding
Principal) SGM GM Sub-total SAM AM CM Sub-total
2 - 1 1 - - 1 1
3 1 1 2 - - 1 1
4 1 1 2 - 1 1 2
5 1 2 3 - 1 1 2
6 2 2 4 - 1 1 2
7 2 2 4 1 1 1 3
8 2 3 5 1 1 1 3
9 2 4 6 1 1 1 3
10 3 4 7 1 1 1 3
11 3 4 7 1 1 2 4
12 3 5 8 1 1 2 4
13 4 5 9 1 1 2 4
14 4 5 9 1 1 3 5
15 4 6 10 1 1 3 5
16 5 6 11 1 1 3 5
17 5 6 11 1 2 3 6
18 5 7 12 1 2 3 6
19 5 8 13 1 2 3 6
20 6 8 14 1 2 3 6
21 6 8 14 2 2 3 7
22 6 9 15 2 2 3 7
23 7 9 16 2 2 3 7
24 7 9 16 2 2 4 8
25 7 10 17 2 2 4 8
26 7 11 18 2 2 4 8
27 7 11 18 2 2 5 9
28 8 11 19 2 2 5 9
29 8 12 20 2 2 5 9
30 9 12 21 2 2 5 9
31 9 12 21 2 3 5 10
32 9 13 22 2 3 5 10
33 10 13 23 2 3 5 10
34 10 13 23 3 3 5 11
35 10 14 24 3 3 5 11
Note :
1. (a) A special school operating a secondary section and with 15 or more equivalent full-streamed ordinary secondary classes is entitled to two deputy heads at
Principal Graduate Master/Mistress (PGM) rank. One PGM post will be provided for every two Senior Graduate Master/Mistress (SGM) posts, offset by the deletion of one SGM post.
(b) If the number of SGM posts is insufficient to allow the provision of PGM posts to the maximum number entitled, one PAM post will be provided to serve as deputy head for every two SAM posts, offset by the deletion of one SAM post.
2. One post in the rank of SAM is upgraded to PAM for a special school operating a secondary section and with 24 or more equivalent full-streamed secondary classes with the functional duties of coordinating pastoral care and extra-curricular activities, and attending to the special needs of the students.
3. Secondary schools offering specified subjects i.e. Design and Technology, Visual Arts (formerly known as Art and Design), Home Economics, Physical Education &
Music at senior secondary level are allowed to appoint a teacher possessing a recognized relevant degree as a Graduate Master/Mistress in charge of the subject with a maximum of 4 such appointments in each standard size school. The allocation of such additional graduate posts will be determined by the Permanent Secretary. The new posts created will be offset by the deletion of an equivalent number of existing non-graduate posts in the schools concerned.
4. One post in the rank of Graduate Master/Mistress (GM) is upgraded to Senior Graduate Master/Mistress (SGM) in an aided special school operating 15 or more equivalent full-streamed ordinary secondary classes.
Section 2 Salary Scales
(This Section should be read in conjunction with Section 4.) A. Teaching staff
Grade/Rank Salary Scale
(Points on the Master Pay Scale)
1. Principal I (Pr I) 45 - 49
2. Principal II (Pr II) 40 - 44
3. Principal Graduate Master/Mistress (PGM) 38 - 41 4. Senior Graduate Master/Mistress (SGM) 34 - 39 5. Graduate Master/Mistress (GM)
Note:
17 - 33 before 1.4.2000 12 - 33 on/after 1.4.2000 A GM will not be allowed to proceed beyond the salary bar specified below without acquiring a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the Permanent Secretary:
Date appointed
Between 5.12.1980 and 31.8.1997 (both dates inclusive) Between 1.9.1997 and 31.3.2000 (both dates inclusive) On or after 1.4.2000
Salary Bar Point 27 Point 22 Point 17
6. Headmaster/Headmistress I (HM I) 38 - 41
7. Headmaster/Headmistress II (HM II) 34 - 39 8. Primary School Master/Mistress (PSM) 30 -33 9. Assistant Primary School Master/Mistress
(APSM) Note:
17 - 29 before 1.4.2000 12 - 29 on/after 1.4.2000 Untrained APSM will not be allowed to proceed beyond the salary bar as shown below:
Date appointed
On or before 31.3.2000 On or after 1.4.2000
Salary Bar Point 27 Point 22 10. Principal Assistant Master/Mistress
(PAM) 34 - 36
(for secondary and special schools) 34 - 39 (#Bar at 36) (for primary schools)
# Passage requires acquisition of a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Primary Education, or equivalent.