WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS (Insurance coverage against physical injury)

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon asked the Minister for Education whether there is any insurance coverage against physical injury resulting from accidents for workshop instructors and students in industrial training centres and vocational institutes doing practical subjects.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, I propose to answer this question in two parts.

First of all, concerning the insurance coverage against physical injury resulting from accidents for workshop instructors, there is no separate insurance coverage against physical injury resulting from accidents for them in the industrial training centres and vocational institutes. But being public officers, if they sustain injuries in the course of discharging public duties, they are covered under two schemes.

The first scheme is the Pensions Ordinance, 1956. Under Regulation 19 of this Ordinance, the quantum of compensation where payable as a result of injury is in addition to any pension, gratuity or other allowance granted under the same Ordinance. Subject to the provisions of the Ordinance, the quantum of the annual allowance payable as compensation ranges from 5/60ths (for slight impairment of earning capacity) to 1/3rd (for total destruction of earning capacity) of an officer's emoluments at the date of injury.

The second scheme is the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance. Under this Ordinance, where a public officer (including a technical teacher, workshop instructor, workshop attendant, and workshop assistant) is classified as a "workman" and is in receipt of a salary not exceeding $400 per month, he is entitled to be compensated under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance provided he is not paid a pension or gratuity for such injury. The rate of compensation is governed by the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance.

The second part of the question deals with insurance coverage for students. The Ministry assists students in taking personal accident insurance coverage when they are sent for practical training to any industrial establishment, job sites, and schools. Students are advised but not compelled to participate in the insurance scheme. So far all students concerned have joined the scheme, as the rate of premium is relatively low, i.e. $1 per student per month for a capital sum assured for $10,000.

In the case of injury caused by the negligence or omission of the teacher or instructor in the vocational institutes, the Government and the teacher or instructor concerned are jointly liable, and it is for the injured party to determine which party or both parties to sue for damages. However, the school authorities will not be liable if all necessary precautions and safeguards have been taken to prevent accidents in schools. Adequate action has been taken to ensure that safety precautions are observed in all schools, vocational institutes and industrial training centres.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the onus of providing insurance coverage against accidents not caused by negligence of the school authorities in industrial training institutions should rest on the parents, and I do urge parents to take insurance coverage for their own children.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru): (In Mandarin): Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary has stated that teachers of Government schools sent to the vocational institutes as instructors are covered under two schemes. But what about those teachers in the Government-aided schools?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, if they draw a salary of less than $400 a month, they will come under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance. If they draw more than that, I presume they will sue the school authorities for damages.