GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT-AIDED SCHOOLS (Particulars of schools and specialist teachers and principle on staffing)

Mr L. P. Rodrigo asked the Minister for Education (a) what are the various official types of Government and Government-aided schools to date; (b) what are the different official kinds of specialist teachers on the staffs in those schools today, that is, the specialist teachers as distinct from the general teachers like the Normal Trained and Certificate in Education teachers; and (c) what is the principle governing the current staffing of such schools.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, to date, there are the following official types of schools: Government Schools Primary schools Primary cum Vocational schools Secondary schools Secondary Technical schools Secondary Vocational schools.

With effect from January 1969 there will be only three official types: Primary schools Secondary schools Secondary Technical schools Government-aided schools Primary schools Secondary schools Full schools (i.e. schools with both primary and secondary classes.) Trade school.

As to the second part of the question, Sir, there are three official types of specialist teachers on the staff of Government and Government-aided schools (full and secondary schools), namely:

(a) Grade I (drawing allowance of $240 p.m.)

(b) Grade II (drawing allowance of $180 p.m.)

(c) Grade III (drawing allowance of $120 p.m.).

As to the third part of the question, Sir, the principle governing the current staffing of such schools is to ensure that schools are adequately staffed with teachers to teach the subjects on the curriculum at primary and secondary levels. Special care is taken to see that adequate provision is given for teaching second languages, technical and voca tional subjects including domestic science. The governing principle bears close relation to the number of classes in a school, the level of instruction, and the type of subjects, whether second language, technical or vocational.

Mr Rodrigo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I take it that these specialist teachers will be undertaking the teaching of special subjects and that, apart from them, there will be the category of general teachers who will be expected to undertake the teaching of any subject assigned to them by the principal of the school.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, according to the scheme of educa-~ tional service, a specialist teacher is one who is employed to teach such subjects as English, Mathematics, Science, Geography and History at Secondary 111 and higher levels. This, is a dying category and no new appointments have been made in this grade since January 1968.