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responsibilities of staff in the different streams varied and each rank covered a wide range of duties. The new structure introduced in 1972 would, it was hoped, establish clear functional levels of responsibility in the various streams, strengthen administration and enable teachers in subsidized schools, who form the majority of the teaching force, to receive the same pay as teachers in government schools. However, different requirements in some streams resulted in changes in structure and number of ranks. The resultant structure, as discussed in more detail below, has caused some of the present difficulties.
Consultation
4.5
In the course of our review, we took the opportunity to meet and consult management and staff in both the government and aided sectors. We also engaged in a programme of visits to see, at first hand, the conditions under which staff work, and to hear their representations. In addition, a large number of written representations from individuals, staff associations, unions and aided sector educational bodies were received. These representations are listed in Appendices VII and VIII of this Report. Although it is not possible to discuss all these submissions individually, it is stressed that each and every one has been taken into account in framing our proposals.
4.6
Our consultations indicated the following major areas of concern
(a)
(b)
(c)
The existence of eight separate grades is alleged to have reduced career opportunities for staff who say they are no longer able to transfer between types of job as easily as they could before 1972 and who, in some cases, cannot expect automatically to reach the same level of salaries as was possible under the previous structure. For some staff this has produced a sense of frustration, jealousy of career prospects in other grades, and a belief that simply returning to the pre-1972 structure would be a panacea for whatever dissatisfaction now exists;
Several representations were received suggesting that, where staff could not for one reason or another be promoted, pay scales should be extended and overlapped with those of promotion ranks to provide rewards for long service;
Many representations, both from staff in the government sector and school operators and senior staff in the non-government sector, suggested revision of manning scales to increase the number of promotion posts available to the teacher entry ranks.