DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST TEACHERS (Prior consultation with teachers' union)

Mr Tay Boon Too asked the Minister for Education whether it is the present practice of his Ministry to consult the union of a teacher before disciplinary proceedings with a view to dismissal are instituted against him, and, if not, whether consideration will be given to adopting this practice.

The Minister for Education (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, disciplinary proceedings with a view to dismissal are regulated by the Public Service (Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations in the case of teachers in Government schools and by the Schools Regulations and Grant-in-Aid Regulations under the Education Ordinance in the case of aided-school teachers.

The Public Service Commission is the final authority for the former and the Director of Education for the latter. In both cases there is no provision for the union of a teacher to be consulted before action is taken. The extreme penalty of dismissal is not exercised lightly. It is resorted to only when the offence is severe enough to justify its imposition and when there is sufficient evidence after thorough investigation. The Ministry is of the view that the present regulations provide adequate safeguards against a miscarriage of justice, and there is no reason for changing them.

Mr Tay Boon Too (Paya Lebar): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister say how many teachers who were sacked have been re-employed?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, I do not have the figure with me, but if the Member wants it, I can supply it to him later.

Mr Tay Boon Too: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I merely want to know whether there are teachers who have been re-employed after having been sacked.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as I am aware, there were 11 cases of dismissals. I do not think there is any case of reinstatement.

Mr Tay Boon Too: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I know of several teachers who have been reinstated in their posts after having been sacked. I can give examples. From this, we can see that the final decision rests with the Public Service Commission, and it may not always be correct. I would like to stress that the authorities concerned should consult the union of the teacher before disciplinary proceedings are taken against him.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, if it is a question of dismissal by the Public Service Commission, then, as far as I am aware, none of them has been reinstated.