PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS (Demotion to teachers)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education how many primary school principals were demoted to be ordinary teachers in January and February, 1979, before he took over the Ministry, and what is the reason or justification for their demotion.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Sir, nine primary school principals were demoted. This arose out of the 1977 promotion exercise. All principals were interviewed by the Public Service Commission. They were assessed for their fitness to be confirmed as principals. Those considered unfit returned to teaching, where replacements were found.

The reasons for the Public Service Commission's decision varied from case to case. In addition to assessment at these interviews, staff confidential reports were taken into account. Some principals were found to be lacking in leadership, being too soft on teachers or being unable to motivate them to good performance. Others did not have sufficient professional competence. Others seemed rigid and unwilling to consider different points of view. One was under disciplinary investigation for alleged financial malpractice. Another asked to be demoted.

The total number of primary school principals covered by this exercise was just over 300. The figure of nine does not show that the Public Service Commission has set up unreasonably stringent standards. Quite the contrary, I would have thought.

Mr Ho See Beng (Khe Bong): Sir, why did it take so long a time, almost more than two years from 1977 to 1979, for the Ministry of Education to discover that these primary school principals were not efficient, apart from one or two cases; and have they been given a warning prior to their demotion?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: The delay was due to the fact that although the promotion exercise took place in 1977, the formal appointments were not due to be made until 1978. In fact, there was a delay of just under one year.

As for warnings, no warning was given because this was the first time, I believe, that the post of principal in schools was considered a promotion post. Previously the post of principal was not a promotion post, and there had been instances where the principals would be junior to some of the teachers because the teachers did not like to be principals. When it was decided that the post of principal would be a promotion post and would carry allowances, then the exercise had to be carried out.