31
--46.
(2)
The Lecturer salary grade is insufficient especially at the lower levels. There is no sidestepping this issue, dealt with
elsewhere in this report and it is going to be a severe
handicap in recruitment.
(3) The Polytechnic is ungenerous and too rigid about leave :
Local leave is confined to the 26 public holidays a year, many of which fall on a Saturday. The staff say that after working at high pressure during the summer term, when the climate is very hot and humid, they are in need of a break during the "period of low academic activity" before the
new session starts in September, but although some of them
have very little to do, they are not allowed to take local
vacations. The atmosphere on this question is further
soured by the discovery on arrival in Hong Kong that the
52 days end-of-contract leave, assumed to be working days as
in Britain, are in fact calender days, significantly lessening
the entitlement. There would certainly appear to be a case
for a better leave entitlement less rigidly applied, but the Board of Governors, which is commercially orientated, is
unsympathetic.
(4) It is complained that there are 40 students in classes with a
minimal drop-out rate and the class rooms too crowded. The
staff claim that this makes satisfactory teaching impracticable
(5) Hours of work. In addition to class contact hours similar
to those in Britain, it was said that no allowance was made in respect of evening classes and administrative duties.
there were liabilities on Saturdays. Unfortunately, I was
insufficiently familiar with conditions in Britain effectively
to discuss or judge these claims.
of
Also
Apart from the above there was a multitude other grievances ranging from trivia to minor irritations which in a somewhat emotional atmosphere engendered by items (1) - (3)
combined with a lack
Fམཐའ་
of leadership from the Directorate and a controversy as to the status
of the Staff Association, had been blown up to an artificially inflated
extent. I was informed that 80% of newly recruited staff had
refused to sign their contracts, that there would be a massive return
PAZERKIGMENTA, A
...32/.