NANYANG UNIVERSITY GRADUATES TEACHING IN GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT-AIDED SCHOOLS

Mr Teo Hock Guan asked the Minister for Education (a) how many graduates of Nanyang University who graduated in the second batch in 1960 are now employed as teachers in Government schools and in Government-aided schools; and (b) of these, how many are still being paid the salary of a teacher with middle-school qualification, and why?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir:

(a) Of the second batch of Nanyang University graduates, 99 are in teaching service of whom

(i) 24 are employed in Government schools, and

(ii) 75 in Government-aided schools.

(b) Of these, four are still being paid the salary of a teacher with Government Senior Middle III qualification for the following reasons:-

(1) As only those who teach in secondary schools can qualify for graduate pay, three out of the four do not qualify for graduate pay because they are teaching in primary schools. All three, however, have applied to the Public Service Commission for consi deration as graduate teachers, but only one has since been found suitable for appointment. This person will be paid a graduate's salary - she happens to be a woman - if she can find a vacancy in a secondary school.

(2) Although the fourth person happens to be teaching in a secondary school, she is not paid a graduate's salary, because she has not submitted her application for consideration by the Public Service Commission.

Mr Teo Hock Guan: Mr Speaker, Sir, these Nanyang University graduates draw the same salary as that drawn by teachers with only Middle School qualification. Does that mean equal treatment to all streams of education?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Evidently, Mr Speaker, my answer to the previous question was not listened to. Or if it was listened to, it is a question which he has put forward rather automatically.

Mr Speaker: Will the Minister then refer to the previous answer?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Yes. The previous answer given to the Member for Changi -

Mr Speaker: Order. I am trying to save the time of the Assembly. Perhaps the Member for Changi will read the answer when it is printed. Any other supplementary question?

Mr Low Por Tuck: (In Mandarin): May I ask the Minister how many Uni versity graduates teaching in primary schools are receiving graduate teachers' pay?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: I think the Member for Havelock asks whether the Minister for Education could give the number of graduates who are teaching in primary schools but receiving the salary of a teacher with Senior Middle III qualification. I would answer that question by saying that I would like notice of the question because it has no bearing with Nanyang University graduates.

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): May I ask the Minister whether he is aware that the second batch of University graduates have been interviewed by the Public Service Commission since August? Why has a list of their names not been approved and disclosed yet?

Mr Speaker: The Minister is at liberty not to answer it. Mr Low Por Tuck.