SALARY OF TAIWAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN TEACHING SERVICE

2.52 p.m.

Mr Ho See Beng asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education whether he is aware that the Taiwan University graduates in the teaching service have received lower salary than their colleagues who are graduates of the former Nantah and University of Singapore, regardless of their length of service, and if he will inform the House the reason for this salary disparity.

The Minister of State of Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the reason why Taiwan University graduates in the teaching service are receiving lower salary than their colleagues who are graduates from the former Nantah and University of Singapore is hat their degrees like those of universities in India, China and several other countries are not treated by the Public Service Commission (PSC) as entitling them to the graduate salary scale.

Graduates from universities of many countries were recruited in the 1950's and 1960's when the teaching service had to expand rapidly because of increase in pupil population. Degrees from universities of these countries were difficult to assess. However, on merits of individual cases, some of these teachers were emplaced on graduate salary scale. From time to time, the status of these teachers who are on non-graduate scale is reviewed by the PSC to determine their suitability for emplacement on graduate salary scale.

Mr Ho See Beng (Khe Bong): Sir, I would be most obliged if the Minister of State could enlighten the House as to how the Taiwan graduate teachers could refer their degrees to the PSC for recognition.

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said earlier, degrees from universities in Taiwan as well as other countries are not accepted by the Public Service Commission for the purpose of emplacement on the graduate scale in the teaching service. However, in 1970, certain steps were taken as a result of an appeal to the Ministry on behalf of teachers who were graduates of Taiwan and Chinese universities. In that year, it was recommended to the Public Service Commission and accepted by the Commission that certain graduates of Taiwan and Chinese universities could be placed on the graduate scale provided certain conditions were met. Three conditions were applied. First, that they should have joined the teaching service before 1st January 1962. Secondly, that they should have attained 50 years of age and, thirdly, that they should have 12 years or more of teaching service.

Since that time, a number of graduates of Taiwan and Chinese universities have been emplaced on the graduate scale. To-date, a total of 67 such graduates have been converted to the graduate scale.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, if those teachers who are now in the teaching service -

Mr Speaker: Your supplementary question, please, Mr Ho.

Mr Ho See Beng: If the Taiwan graduates wish to apply for the graduate teachers' scale and if they approach the Ministry of Education, will the Ministry help them to refer this matter to the PSC for recognition? If there are teachers who are not getting the graduate pay and if they meet with the Ministry's requirements, will the Ministry help them to bring this matter to the attention of the PSC?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: The answer is yes.