PROMOTION EXERCISE FOR TEACHERS

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister of Education when the next promotion exercise for the teaching profession will take place.

The Minister of Education (Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam): Mr Speaker, Sir, the last promotion exercise for teachers was held in 1977. A massive effort was launched to review the record of the 18,870 teachers who were then employed in the teaching service. 7,642 teachers were shortlisted and interviewed by 19 Interview Boards set up by the Ministry of Education. Out of the 7,642 teachers interviewed by the Ministry, 1,415 teachers were selected for further interview by the Public Service Commission and eventually 474 teachers, i.e. less than 3% of the teaching force, were promoted. Not surprisingly, the result of all this work was a loss of morale in the teaching force.

The formation of a Senior Education Service has been announced in the Presidential Addendum on Education. The next exercise will be held after the details of the Senior Education Service have been settled.