TEACHING SERVICE SALARY STRUCTURE RE-INTRODUCTION OF ONE PRINCIPAL ONE SESSION

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Education whether and when his Ministry will commence negotiations with the Singapore Teachers' Union on claims submitted during 1961 relating to (a) anomalies in the salary structure in the Teaching Service between the normal-trained,the old certificated-trained and the new certificated-trained teachers and the graduates; and (b) the re-introduction of the one Principal one session school system as was in practice before.

The Minister of State for Education (Inche A. Rahim Ishak) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the existing salary structure for the Education Service is based on the scheme of service for the teaching profession which was incorporated in the Scheme of Higher Services, 1953, and implemented with effect from 1.1.50. In the course of development of education in Singapore, several of the salary scales were modified and new salary scales introduced from time to time to meet changing circumstances. The consolidation of salaries in 1952, the Ritsonisation in 1953, the general revision of salaries for teachers and other groups of public servants undertaken in 1958, have all had their effects on the salary structure. And the Ministry of Education is aware of certain anomalies therein. So with a view to regularising the salary structure which might have become administratively cumbersome, the Ministry of Education has proposed a revised salary structure for the consideration of the Salaries Commission. It is understood that the Teachers' Unions have similarly made recommendations to the Commission on the scales and salary structure. The Ministry of Finance has advised the Ministry of Education that matters relating to salary scales should be referred to the Salaries Commission to be resolved by them. In the circumstances, any negotiations on the salary structure of the teaching service must await the outcome of the deliberations of the Salaries Commission.

Regarding the second part of that question, the re-introduction of one Principal for one session, the Ministry of Education is aware that in postwar years, there arose the need to build more schools and later to use schools as two-session schools to cope with the increase of the student population of Singapore. At that time, the accent was on primary education. From about 1953 to 1959, if primary schools were used as two-session schools, there were two Principals. In 1960, to cope with the new policy of providing education for even larger numbers of children of school-going age, it was decided that more schools would be used as two-session schools. The move to put one Principal in charge of a school of two sessions was part of the effort of providing the largest number of children of school-going age with an education on an economic budget, coupled with the fact that it was considered then that there were not enough teachers with the requisite experience to discharge adequately the duties and responsibilities of Principals. There are certain administrative disadvantages in having one Principal per session as questioned by the Member for Bras Basah. Morning and afternoon schools will be separate entities, each with its own Principal, staffed with its own teachers, accounts, sports equipment, teaching aids, school functions, and so on. But the building, playing field, classrooms, furniture, storage space, school servants and watchmen, will have to be shared by both schools, morning and afternoon. Now this leads often to misunderstanding and petty bickering. In particular, it is difficult for school servants and watchmen to work under two independent Principals. The annual interchange of morning and afternoon staff will also present some difficulty if the two Principals are at loggerheads. All in all, administration with two Principals will be more cumbersome than having one overall head.

To assist the one Principal who is responsible for the two sessions, there are senior assistants provided at the rate of one senior assistant for every 15 classes, taking both sessions into account. The senior assistants do an average of 10 hours 31 minutes of actual teaching a week and assist Principals with the administrative work on an average of 8 hours 17 minutes per week, which assistance is confined mostly to paper work and not to supervision of the staff, the standard and the discipline of the school. This shows that the senior assistant is only effective as a teacher for 10 hours and 31 minutes per week compared with the average for teachers, other than senior assistants, of 18 hours and 2 minutes per week. Senior assistants do not receive any extra remuneration, but they are afforded time off from teaching duties, and the administrative experience which they gain as senior assistants invariably stands them in good stead for promotion purposes.

The idea of one Principal for one session has been carefully explored and consideration has also been given to the idea of paying some form of remuneration to senior assistants vis-a-vis Vice-Principals. Certain proposals have been put up for the consideration of the Salaries Commission. In the circumstances, and because of the proposals put up to the Salaries Commission in this connection, the decision in this matter must await the outcome of the deliberations of the Salaries Commission.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand from the Minister of State for Education that it is the intention of the Minister to set up a Salaries Commission. This Salaries Commission is to inquire into the salaries of all the civil service. I am asking a question about the removal of the anomalies that have existed since 1958 until today. May I know whether the Salaries Commission is to inquire into the revision of salaries, or into the removal of the anomalies in the salary structure, or both?

Inche Rahim Ishak: Mr Speaker, Sir, firstly, the Member for Bras Basah, I think, made a mistake in stating that it was the Minister's intention to set up a Salaries Commission. It is no longer an intention. The Minister has already announced last week that a Salaries Commission will be set up.

On the question of anomalies and revision of salaries, the hon. Member for Bras Basah also missed the point when he questioned whether teachers were to be included in the general revision of salaries which will be dealt with by the Salaries Commission. As he is well aware, teachers are also civil servants in Singapore. Therefore, they will be included in the revision of salaries. Anomalies are part of the question of revision of salaries which will be considered by the Salaries Commission.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I know when and how soon this Salaries Commission will be set up? It has been the practice of the Government to delay the setting up of a Salaries Commission and all that. It is always the case that the setting up of a Salaries Commission takes a very, very long time. Will the Minister kindly indicate when this Salaries Commission can be set up?

Mr Speaker: I understood the Minister to say that it has already been set up. Am I right?

Inche Rahim Ishak: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Bras Basah is questioning when it will end.

Mr Speaker: No. His question is when it will be set up.

Inche Rahim Ishak: That, as you have stated, Mr Speaker, was already answered earlier.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, a Salaries Commission was actually set up when we were part of Malaysia. But after the separation, we were informed that our representative is no longer required to sit on it. Therefore, it will take us some time to get members to serve on the Salaries Commission. I am sure the Member for Bras Basah would not like any Tom, Dick and Harry to serve on the Commission. We want to see justice done and, therefore, it will take some time before we set up a Commission. Anyway, action is proceeding.

Mr Speaker: So it seems the Commission has not been set up! [Interruption] The personnel has not been named.

Mr Ho See Beng: Will the Minister also inform us, when this Salaries Commission is set up, firstly, will the views of the civil service unions he sought? Secondly, will the Teachers' Union representative be allowed to help the Ministry in drawing up the terms of reference?

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Bras Basah should be aware that Government always seek the views of those who are interested. Views from the teachers have already been submitted, if I am not mistaken, to the Malaysian Salaries Commission. And I can assure him that we will seek further views if they are required.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): They want to reduce their claims!

Mr Ho See Beng: Will the Government also give an assurance that some of the claims of the civil service unions will be back-dated when the Commission make their findings?

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have made clear my stand on backdating a few days ago, and it has not changed since then.