TRANSFER OF TEACHERS TO THE NINE SELECTED CHINESE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education (a) how many teachers from how many schools have been transferred to the nine selected Chinese secondary schools; (b) whether the move has created problems for the schools from which those teachers have been transferred; and (c) how replacement will be made.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Mr Chai Chong Yii) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, a total of 42 teachers from 32 schools were transferred to the nine selected Chinese secondary schools. The vacancies arising in the 32 schools were filled mainly by cadet teachers. The withdrawal of even a single teacher from any school must cause some disruption. However, a breakdown shows that of the 32 schools, one released three teachers, eight released two teachers and the remaining 23 released one teacher each. The release of more than one teacher by a school was conditioned by such factors as distance, the specific needs of schools and the standing of the teachers.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Sir, would the 42 teachers from the 32 schools transferred to the nine selected Chinese secondary schools be sufficient to meet the requirements of teaching? Also, Sir, would the hon. Senior Minister of State give us the breakdown figures of the medium of teaching of these teachers?

Mr Chai Chong Yii: Sir, in addition to the 42 teachers transferred from other schools, another 32 were posted to the nine schools to meet curriculum needs. Of these 32, 23 were Institute of Education graduands and 3 cadet teachers, six were inter-transfer among the nine schools because of curriculum adjustment. Of the total of 74 teachers posted, 67 were of the English medium and seven were of the Chinese medium.