UNTRAINED TEACHERS

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education (i) whether his Ministry employs untrained teachers (i.e. those with G.C.E. 'O' or 'A' level) in schools on a temporary arrangement; (ii) if so, the number of such teachers who were employed in 1982; (iii) the terms of their employment; and (iv) the names of the schools to which they were posted showing the duration of their posting in the schools.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: (i) The Ministry employs persons with G.C.E. 'O' or 'A' level qualifications as well as trained persons as relief teachers on a temporary arrangement.

(ii) In 1982, there were an average of 1032 relief teachers employed each month.

(iii) A relief teacher is employed on a daily basis and is paid according to his qualifications as follows: Trained graduate -- $55.54 per day Trained non-graduate -- $41.16 per day Untrained graduate -- $34.97 per day Untrained non-graduate -- $20.72 per day

A relief teacher is paid for the days that he works. He is not paid during public and school holidays. The appointment can be terminated at any time by the relief teacher or the school on one day's notice.

(iv) Except for 25 schools and junior colleges, the other 422 employed relief teachers at one time or another during 1982 to meet their staffing needs. No list of schools will be provided as the number of relief teachers in a school is not static but changes during the year. This depends on exigencies such as maternity and sick leave and study leave. The duration of service of relief teachers is likewise variable. The majority serve for less than 1 year.