Preschool teachers work a median of 55 hours per week in Hong Kong, 12 hours more than the figure for other workers, with nearly 60 per cent wanting to quit because of exhaustion and relatively low salaries, a survey has found.

The Education University of Hong Kong, which carried out the survey, called on the government to re-examine kindergarten teachers’ working conditions and welfare benefits, review a pay scale suggested by authorities to recognise the profession, and consider making it mandatory.

The university’s department of early childhood education, which surveyed 851 preschool educators, including principals, class teachers and teaching assistants, from January to June, found that 52 per cent of respondents worked 10 hours or more each day. Nearly half said they were required to work at least two hours after school.

“Some teachers gave us some feedback in the survey, saying that they were very tired physically and mentally … they sometimes had mood swings after work because they did not get enough rest and worked very long hours. It is undesirable,” said Professor Eva Lau Yi-hung, the department’s acting head.

Three respondents – a class teacher, a senior teacher and a principal – said their daily schedule could be as long as 18 hours, including the time spent working after school hours.

“For them, except the hours for sleep, the rest is work,” said Chan Wai-ling, an assistant professor in the department.