A rule that is usually applied to Hong Kong government officers has been extended to foreigners teaching the English language at government schools where they have been asked to swear an oath of allegiance to the city.

According to AFP news agency, Hong Kong's Education Bureau has issued an order mandating Native-speaking English Teachers (NETs) and advisors working in government-run schools to sign the declaration by June 21 in order to continue working in the upcoming academic year.

The order states that NETs must declare they will bear allegiance to Hong Kong and uphold the Basic Law – the city’s constitutional text – as well as be responsible to the government.

“Neglect, refusal or failure” to sign the declaration would lead to contract termination, authorities said.

The new declaration would “further safeguard and promote the core values that should be upheld by all government employees” and ensure effective governance, a government spokesperson told AFP.

The oath-taking was first introduced in 2020 at government offices in Hong Kong following the gradual rollout of the national security law as a way to fulfil Chinese government demands of loyalty.

A NET teacher told Hong Kong Free Press newspaper that they are "unhappy" with the move as it seeks to treat the foreign teachers “as foreign agents who might instil dangerous ideas into the mind of Hong Kong youngsters.”

NETs are hired on renewable two-year contracts, with monthly salaries starting at around HK$32,000 (US$4,100/£3,300) and can go as high as HK$74,000.

Hong Kong introduced the NET program in 1997 to improve students’ language skills and has gradually made NETs a standard feature in primary and secondary schools.

Apart from market-beating salaries, NETs receive government allowances and other incentives to ensure retention, which has been a growing problem in recent years.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A rule that is usually applied to Hong Kong government officers has been extended to foreigners teaching the English language at government schools where they have been asked to swear an oath of allegiance to the city.

A rule that is usually applied to Hong Kong government officers has been extended to foreigners teaching the English language at government schools where they have been asked to swear an oath of allegiance to the city. According to AFP news agency, Hong Kong's Education Bureau has issued an order mandating Native-speaking English Teachers (NETs) and advisors working in government-run schools to sign the declaration by June 21 in order to continue working in the upcoming academic year. The order states that NETs must declare they will bear allegiance to Hong Kong and uphold the Basic Law – the city’s constitutional text – as well as be responsible to the government. “Neglect, refusal or failure” to sign the declaration would lead to contract termination, authorities said. The new declaration would “further safeguard and promote the core values that should be upheld by all government employees” and ensure effective governance, a government spokesperson told AFP. The oath-taking was first introduced in 2020 at government offices in Hong Kong following the gradual rollout of the national security law as a way to fulfil Chinese government demands of loyalty. A NET teacher told Hong Kong Free Press newspaper that they are "unhappy" with the move as it seeks to treat the foreign teachers “as foreign agents who might instil dangerous ideas into the mind of Hong Kong youngsters.” NETs are hired on renewable two-year contracts, with monthly salaries starting at around HK$32,000 (US$4,100/£3,300) and can go as high as HK$74,000. Hong Kong introduced the NET program in 1997 to improve students’ language skills and has gradually made NETs a standard feature in primary and secondary schools. Apart from market-beating salaries, NETs receive government allowances and other incentives to ensure retention, which has been a growing problem in recent years. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Foreign teachers in Hong Kong forced to take allegiance oath or risk losing job: Report

An Oslo court on Wednesday jailed two jihadists of Pakistani and Chechen origin for six and seven and a half years, respectively, for joining the&nbsp;Islamic State&nbsp;in Syria. 
 
Adam Idrisovich Magomadov, a 23-year-old Russian of Chechen origin, and Hasan Ahmed, a 46-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani origin, were convicted of belonging to IS and of &quot;terror conspiracy&quot;. 
 
The two men, who had been living in Southeastern Norway, travelled together to Syria in August 2014, a little more than a month after the IS declared a caliphate in an area straddling Iraq and Syria. 
 
While there, the two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group, and bore weapons in its name, the court found. Magomadov was handed a heavier sentence because he stayed in Syria longer. 
 
The court found it likely that he had taken part in combat, that he had maintained ties with IS after returning to Norway, and that he, like his co-accused, planned to return to Syria. 
 
Ahmed, whose son Ishaq was also sentenced to eight years in prison in Norway last year for joining IS, will appeal the conviction, while Magomadov had not yet decided, their lawyers told public broadcaster NRK. Their sentences were in line with those requested by the prosecution. 
 
(AFP)

The two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group and bore weapons in its name

An Oslo court on Wednesday jailed two jihadists of Pakistani and Chechen origin for six and seven and a half years, respectively, for joining the Islamic State in Syria. Adam Idrisovich Magomadov, a 23-year-old Russian of Chechen origin, and Hasan Ahmed, a 46-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani origin, were convicted of belonging to IS and of "terror conspiracy". The two men, who had been living in Southeastern Norway, travelled together to Syria in August 2014, a little more than a month after the IS declared a caliphate in an area straddling Iraq and Syria. While there, the two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group, and bore weapons in its name, the court found. Magomadov was handed a heavier sentence because he stayed in Syria longer. The court found it likely that he had taken part in combat, that he had maintained ties with IS after returning to Norway, and that he, like his co-accused, planned to return to Syria. Ahmed, whose son Ishaq was also sentenced to eight years in prison in Norway last year for joining IS, will appeal the conviction, while Magomadov had not yet decided, their lawyers told public broadcaster NRK. Their sentences were in line with those requested by the prosecution. (AFP)

Pakistani and Chechen-origin jihadists jailed in Norway

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