GRADUATE AND NORMAL - TRAINED TEACHERS AND LECTURERS (Number of resignations)

Mrs Seow Peck Leng asked the Minister for Education how many (a) graduate teachers in Government and Government-aided schools, (b) normal-trained teachers in (i) secondary, and (ii) primary Government schools, and (c) lecturers in the Teachers' Training College, resigned from 1st June, 1959, to a latest convenient date.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of teachers who resigned from service during the period June 1959 to May 1960 were as follows: Graduate teachers in Government and Government-aided schools 160 English Stream 74 Chinese Stream 86

Of the 74 who resigned from the English stream, 22 were expatriates of whom two opted to retire under Malayanisation terms and 14 were married women on temporary month-to-month appointments.

Normal-trained teachers in Government schools: Secondary 15 Primary 106 Lecturers in the Teachers'Training College 13

Twelve of the 13 who resigned from the T.T.C. were expatriates of whom five opted to retire under Malayanisation terms and seven were married women on a temporary month-to-month basis.

To judge the staffing position in schools purely on the figures of those who resigned will not provide a fair picture of the situation. Just as nature abhors a vacuum, so do vacancies arising not only from resignations but also from retirement or death be filled by recruitment. Therefore, to appreciate the staffing position in schools in its proper perspective, it is necessary to have an overall picture regarding the number of teachers as against the student enrolment, that is, the staff/student ratio.

In June 1959, there were 9,870 teachers in Government and Government-aided schools, and the student enrolment was 308,333, or a staff/student ratio of 1 to 31. In June 1960, there were 10,428 teachers to 340,521 students, or a ratio of 1 to 33. During the year from June 1959 to May 1960, therefore, there has been an overall increase of 558 teachers and 32,188 students. This staff/student ratio of 1 to 33 is still exceedingly favourable when we bear in mind the fact that because of the heavy cost of education on the national budget we are now requiring classes to increase their capacity from the previous 40 to 44, or a staff/student ratio of 1 to 44.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, could the Minister inform this House as to the reasons why such a large number of teachers have resigned from Government service?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, men and women have varying reactions to responsibilities. Quite a number probably have resigned because the task of nation-building proves to be too heavy. Others think that teaching is a part-time business and could be indulged, while others think that it is time they went back to the Federation, or Sarawak, or Australia. It is difficult to give a general answer to a very sweeping question.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Mr Speaker, Sir, the next question will not be so sweeping. The Minister has said that there is an increase in the number of teachers in the Education Department. Is it not a fact that that increase is the result of recruiting untrained teachers and teachers who are at present receiving training?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: The answer to the Member for Cairnhill is as follows. In June 1959, the T.T.C. had an enrolment of 2,241. In June 1960, the enrolment is 2,407, i.e. an increase of, shall we say, 160 only.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, the increase in enrolment of teachers in the T.T.C. does not reflect the increase in the number of teachers who are at present teaching, and who surely have to take a number of years before they can come out of the T.T.C. as qualified teachers.

Mr Speaker: A supplementary question?

Tun Lim Yew Hock: The supplementary question is: is it not a fact that the increase in the enrolment of teachers in the T.T.C. does not correctly reflect the increase in the number of teachers, as given by the Minister for Education?

Mr Speaker: Would the Minister like to answer that question?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, in school we teach children that "one and two are three" and subtracting "one from three leaves two". I have given facts and figures which would appear not to click with the Member for Cairnhill, who is the former Minister for Education.

Mr A. P. Rajah (Farrer Park): Sir, will the Hon, the Minister for Education say that one trained teacher equates to a new recruit as a teacher?

Mr Speaker: I think we are now entering into a debate. I think the Member for Cairnhill and the Member for Mountbatten could file a motion or claim the right to raise the matter on the Adjournment.