ABSENCE OF TEACHERS ON REOPENING OF SCHOOLS (Request for statement)

Mrs Seow Peck Leng asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that when the schools reopened on 2nd January, 1962, some classes had no teachers and the children were told that a teacher would be available only after two weeks, and whether he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the recruitment of new teachers for the opening of schools each year is a massive annual event. The recruitment of more than 1,300 new teachers for the reopening of the new school year on 2nd January, 1962, was officially begun with advertisements published in the local newspapers calling for applicants on 26th October, 1961. A record number of 11,713 application forms were issued, and 6,542 completed forms were returned. Twenty-three selection boards were then constituted to interview 5,370 candidates. The process of calling up hundreds of those considered suitable, replacing those who have since decided not to accept appointment, getting them to sign the various requisite papers, having them medically examined, and issuing letters of appointment and posting orders, are time-consuming factors.

As the Member for Mountbatten is fully aware, all this volume of work was done within two months. But for the devotion and loyalty of the staff of the Ministry and the long hours put in by the Establishment arid Inspectorate staff, principals of schools and lecturers of the Teachers' Training College, I think we should consider ourselves fortunate that only 85 vacancies were left unfilled when the schools reopened on the 2nd of this month. However, by the 10th, only 33 vacancies remained unfilled. Of the 33 unfilled vacancies, eight have been given up to today to accept offers of appointment. Seventeen, now working in other Ministries, are waiting to be released from their present jobs, and another eight to be found who would be willing to be posted to island schools.

To ensure that more time could be given to processing of future applicants and to complete full posting of new teachers to schools for the beginning of each school year, it is proposed to advertise in August this year for 1963 recruitment of teachers instead of waiting till October, i.e. two months earlier than was done last year.