CHINESE SCHOOL TEACHERS (Salary payments)

Mr Lim Cher Kheng asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware of the delay, in some cases of three months, in the payment of salaries to the teachers of the Grant-in-Aid and fully aided Chinese schools; whether he is aware that this delay in payment of salaries to these teachers has not only caused hardship, but also created resentment; and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

Mr Chew Swee Kee: I am aware that there has been delay in payment of grant-in-aid in respect of salaries of teachers in Chinese aided schools since the beginning of this year, and I am fully aware of the hardships that late payment of salaries to teachers can cause. It would be an exaggeration, however, to say that the delay extends to three months. Changes in school staffs operative from January make the preparation and checking of the new year salary bills a very complicated task. In order to assist schools over the difficult period, all schools have received advances amounting to an average month's salary bill. The great majority have also received money for payment of January salaries. An additional clerk has been appointed to assist in this work, and I can assure the House that there will be no further delay in the future.