SALARY OF TEACHERS

Mr Ho See Beng asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education why a primary school teacher who applied for a teaching post in a secondary school has been told that he would not be paid salary of a secondary school teacher despite approval of his application.

Dr Tay Eng Soon (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there does not exist a salary scale for secondary school teachers. Teachers' salaries are determined by academic qualifications and experience. Teachers are broadly classified into two groups, university graduates and non- graduates, and they are placed on separate salary scales. Generally, graduate teachers teach in upper secondary schools and junior colleges and non-graduate teachers teach in primary schools and lower secondary classes.

A transfer from a primary school to a secondary school does not entitle the teacher to a graduate's pay.

Mr Ho See Beng (Khe Bong): Sir, can the Minister of State tell this House how does a Taiwan university graduate, who is a primary school teacher, go about applying for a teaching post in a secondary school and get a secondary school teacher's pay?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, I have said that there is no secondary school teacher's pay as opposed to primary school teacher's pay. It is a question of whether the teacher is a graduate and accepted as such by the Public Service Commission. If the teacher has a degree and applies to the Public Service Commission and is accepted as such as a graduate teacher, then he will be put on the graduate teacher's salary scale, irrespective of whether he is in a primary school or a secondary school.

Mr Ho See Bong: Sir, how does one get to know whether a Taiwan university degree is recognized by the Government or not?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the recognition of university degrees for the civil service is determined by the Public Service Commission.

Mr Ho See Bong: Sir, it seems to me that the Ministry of Education does not recognize -

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Ho, are you raising a supplementary question?

Mr Ho See Beng: Yes, I am. Does the Ministry of Education only accept his service but does not recognize his degree?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, people who want to become teachers apply to the Public Service Commission to be employed as teachers. The Public Service Commission at the interview decides whether or not to recognize his or her qualifications. Dr Toh Chin Chye;