GOVERNMENT-AIDED SCHOOL TEACHERS (Retirement age and long-service gratuity)

Mr Tay Boon Too asked the Minister for Education if he will consider (a) terminating the services of teachers in Government-Aided Schools when they have reached the age of 60 years and recruiting younger teachers to fill their places; and (b) the payment to retiring teachers in such schools of a long-service gratuity equivalent to one year's difference between the last-drawn salary of the retiring teacher and the salary of a new recruit.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not the intention that the services of teachers in Government-aided schools on reaching the age of 60 will be terminated in all cases, as in the interest of education, the experience and expertise of the consistently good ones should be retained, if necessary even in promotion posts, to help build up the character of schools and education generally.

The suggestion of a long-service gratuity scheme will be submitted to the Treasury for consideration.