GOVERNMENT-AIDED SCHOOL TEACHERS (Payment of gratuity on retirement)

Mr Tay Boon Too asked the Minister for Education if the Government will consider the payment of a gratuity to a teacher of a Government-aided school on retirement.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, aided-school teachers are members of the Central Provident Fund. The Government makes a monthly C.P.F, contribution at the rate of eight per cent of the officer's total emoluments. The rate of contribution will eventually be raised to 10 per cent.

On retirement, the aided-school teacher receives his C.P.F, benefits instead of a gratuity and pension payable to a retired Government teacher. Aided-school teachers who leave the service prior to their retirement age are allowed to retain the Government's share of the C.P.F, contributions.

With the recent increases in the rate of Government C.P.F, contributions to the present eight per cent (with expectation of an eventual rise to 10 per cent), aided-school teachers on retirement receive a reasonable sum of money by way of superannuation benefits, if in addition to C.P.F, contributions, a gratuity is given to aided-school teachers, their superannuation benefits will be much more than the super-annuation benefits of Government teachers.

Mr Tay Boon Too: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister say why Government teachers get pension and gratuity on retirement and not Government-aided school teachers?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, the difference is that one is a Government servant and the other is not. If the Member is so keen on joining Government service, there are ways and means for him to do so.