Primary Classroom Teacher, SON

Teaching youngsters in an international environment in Macau that esteems good character and moral qualities, alongside academic, artistic, and physical development.

Responsibilities

• Teach all non-specialized subjects, including devotions and character development, mathematics, English, science, and social studies.
• Facilitate learning by becoming engaged in life and progress of each child, including maintaining a close relationship with parents.
• Establish classroom management through cooperative not punitive discipline.
• Develop schemes of work and unit plans in line with curriculum objectives.
• Organize, support and take part school events, outings and activities.
• Attend staff meetings and contribute to effective and harmonious functioning of the department.

Primary

Our primary department is from Primary 1 to Primary 6. Primary teachers are with students for homeroom and core subjects, up to twenty periods a week. A maximum class size of 25 students allows teachers time to develop genuine relationships with their students. Our curriculum draws from several sources and is always being refined.

We believe that childhood is a time of life in which a firm foundation of high ideals is established, as children learn to be purposeful and develop praiseworthy qualities and good habits. The task of educators, we believe, is to find the talents in each child and foster their development. As children progress in character and learning, the result is “light upon light”.

Working Hours & Schedule

Teachers have 36 working hours per week, which is comprised of up to twenty 45-minute teaching periods, various responsibilities, and some planning time.

There are about 30 days of Macau and school holidays throughout the year which includes both Winter and Chinese Spring Festival breaks, plus about 50 days of summer holidays. Monthly working Saturdays—which often foster community engagement and extension activities—allow us to lengthen our holidays while still meeting contact day requirements.

Compensation & Benefits

The annual base salary, including housing allowance, is approximately US$44,000, after tax, and is slightly increased based on years of experience. This does not include the annual travel allowance, new year’s bonus, pension contributions, and a yearly re-enlistment bonus equivalent to one month’s salary. Furthermore, the government of Macau generously provides a teacher’s professional development subsidy of at least US$600 per month. Taken together, the after-tax total compensation that teachers receive is around US$58,000.

Benefits include local healthcare coverage, reduced tuition for up to two dependents to enroll in the school, internal professional development, and assistance in finding an apartment which includes a one-week hotel stay. The school also covers basic quarantine costs, if needed, for arriving teachers.

Pandemic Considerations

UPDATE: As of 3 December 2021, Macau has continued to pursue a strict, zero-COVID strategy. While local residents may enter the territory directly, currently, foreigners may only enter by land from Mainland China or Hong Kong after residing there for at least 21 days. The future state of the pandemic and corresponding regulations cannot be predicted with certainty. However, the school expects to continue to see additional and less cumbersome channels open for teachers to enter Macau from abroad going forward, certainly by Summer 2022.

This year, fully vaccinated teachers will be hired from all countries, although slight preference will be given to those who can more easily enter Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau. Up-to-date information about travel restrictions will be posted on the employment page of our website. Any uncertainties can be raised on the application form and addressed at the interview stage of the application process.

Requirements

Primary teaching qualifications, such as a bachelor’s degree in education with a focus in Primary OR any bachelor degree plus a post-graduate certification in primary education (PGCE).

Fluency in English, which is the medium of instruction.

Start Date

New teachers traditionally reach Macau in early August and enter the classroom from September. However, this position may begin at any time from January to August 2022, the sooner the better, considering the candidate’s personal and professional circumstances along with the travel and entry restrictions related to the pandemic.