TRANSFERRING OUT OF TEACHERS WHO ARE RELATED TO EACH OTHER (Method adopted and Numbers)

Mr Tee Kim Leng asked the Minister for Education to state (a) the method adopted in transferring out from a school, teachers therein who are related to each other; (b) how many such teachers have been transferred this year; and (c) how many have not been transferred.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I answer the question proper, may I be permitted to explain as follows? On the 24th August, 1959, a circular was issued to all school principals requiring them to declare a list of staff employed in each school of those who happen to be close relatives, defined as: - spouses, parents, brothers, sisters, or children. The purpose of the circular was to ensure fair and proper running of schools by breaking up teams of close relatives working in the same school, as far as possible.

In reply to the first part of the question as to the method adopted in transferring out teachers who are closely related in accordance with the circular: in the case of Government schools, such teachers are generally posted to different schools by the Ministry itself. In the case of Government aided schools, the transfers are usually arranged mutually between teachers and principals of schools concerned, subject to approval by the Ministry.

In reply to the second part of the question: as most transfers of this nature were effected during the two years 1960 and 1961, there were only four transfers for this year.

To the last part of the question, from available records. 36 teachers affected by the circular have not been transferred with the knowledge and approval of the Ministry for a variety of reasons. The status quo is, however, only permitted subject to there being no complaints against these teachers. Otherwise one of the affected parties would have to be transferred out or be required to leave the service of the school altogether.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister for Education said that there were four transfers this year. Could he tell us whether every one of these four teachers is still teaching at the moment, or is he now unemployed?

Mr Speaker: Has the Minister the question? It seems to be a different question.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: The four teachers who have been transferred have been put to other schools.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker. Sir,I know of a case in which a transferred teacher seems to have been dismissed. He is not teaching any longer.

Mr Speaker: Order. I have said in the past that Question Time is not the time merely to give information. A case like that could, easily have been brought to the notice of the Minister or stated specifically in the Question, so that the Minister will be able to answer it. A general question followed by particularisation is not quite the proper course to take.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, I would like to ask a question concerning those teachers who have not been transferred out. Can the Minister acquaint the House with the reasons for not transferring them out?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: I have stated, Sir that those who have not been transferred have been allowed to stay in the schools concerned for special reasons and if there were no complaints against them. In certain cases like island schools, husbands and wives were permitted to stay together because certain teachers were not prepared to serve in island schools. In other cases, it was because it is difficult to replace such teachers if they are specialist teachers in Upper Secondary schools, or for health reasons and so forth where it was felt justified to permit such teachers to remain, subject to no complaints being received that the teachers concerned, being relatives, are ganging up seeking a favoured position in schools, and so forth.

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): Has the Minister concerned paid attention to the fact that some teachers who were supposed to have been transferred had, in fact, been dismissed?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Sir, in my reply I mentioned that in the case of teachers who have not been transferred with our knowledge and approval, there were conditions attached to them, which were that 'there should be no complaints lodged against these teachers in the schools. Should there be complaints and if after investigation, they were found to be true, then one of the affected parties would have to be transferred out or leave the service of the school.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has made mention of teachers in island schools. I would like to find out whether the Minister has noticed that apart from these island school teachers there has been a case where a couple have not been transferred, but in another case where the teachers are brothers, they have been transferred out. If the Minister wants the name pf the school concerned, I can give it to him.

Mr Speaker: Order. I think I should prevent all these what are technically called "fishing" questions. If the Member has a particular complaint, he can either complain direct to the Minister, or put it down in a question and particularise. I cannot allow fishing questions like that.