OVER-PAYMENT TO CHINESE SCHOOL TEACHERS AND REFUND OF EXCESS

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Education-

(a) how many Chinese-school teachers were paid in error sums in excess of their correct salaries;

(b) why such Chinese-school teachers were required to refund such excesses in one lump sum instead of by instalments;

(c) how many of such Chinese-school teachers, as a result of such refunds, received less than $20 as their salary for the relevant month; and

(d) whether he is aware of hardships caused to such Chinese-school teachers by reason of such refunds, and what steps he has taken or will take to alleviate such hardships.

Mr Chew Swee Kee: (a) Sir, so far only five Chinese school teachers are known to have been paid in error sums in excess of their correct salaries.

(b) Sir, this is due to a misunderstanding by the schools that over-payments of salaries could be refunded by instalments.

(c) Only one case has been brought to my Ministry's notice.

(d) Yes, I am aware that some refunds could cause hardships to such teachers, and as soon as I learned of such cases, I gave immediate instructions that deductions must be made by reasonable instalments.