MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1980
PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE STAFF SALARIES IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS ****
IN A MOVE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY PRIVATE SCHOOLS NOT IN RECEIPT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR SALARY SUPPLEMENTATION, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION IS PROPOSING TO BETTER THE SALARY OF STAFF, FROM THE START OF THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR IN SEPTEMBER.
HIS PROPOSAL IF ACCEPTED BY SCHOOL OPERATORS, COULD MEAN AN INITIAL OUTLAY"OF" OVER $3 ̄MILLION BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE COMING YEAR.
DETAILS OF THE OFFER OUTLINED BY THE DIRECTOR, MR KENNETH TOPLEY, WERE WELCOMED BY MEMBERS OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATIONS ADVISORY BOARD AT A SPECIAL MEETING TODAY (MONDAY).
THE OFFER WILL BE OPEN TO ALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS NOT ALREADY RECEIVING SALARY SUPPLEMENTATION. KINDERGARTENS ARE EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SUBJECT OF SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE RECENT GREEN PAPER.
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE OPERATORS OF THESE SCHOOLS MAY, IF THEY WISH, APPLY TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE UP TO THREE PER CENT ON THE TUITION FEES APPROVED FOR 1980/81 UNDER THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS.
*THIS THREE PER CENT WILL SOLELY BE FOR IMPROVING STAFF SALARIES WHICH IN TURN SHOULD SURELY RESULT IN A BETTER QUALITY OF SERVICE, MR TOPLEY SAID.
A CIRCULAR OUTLINING THE PROPOSAL WILL BE SENT TO SCHOOLS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AND OPERATORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO INFORM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF THE IR DECISIONS.
FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN ON FULL TUITION FEES IN THESE SCHOOLS, THE PROPOSAL WILL IN THE GENERALITY OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS COST THEM AN ESTIMATED EXTRA $4 TO $7 PER CHILD EACH MONTH.
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