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"This is to maintain the attractiveness of the teaching career in the primary school level to good quality new teachers," he said.
"To implement the proposal, the Working Group suggests that for appointment to the Primary School Master grade, a new teacher should possess a Bachelor of Education degree in Primary Education.
"For serving teachers, it is proposed that starting from 1996/97, those who possess a recognised Hong Kong first degree or equivalent should be eligible for appointment to the primary graduate teacher posts, and the School Management Committee's (SMC) assessment should be based on individual teachers' merits and performance.
"The relevance requirement to a degree in primary education or special education or primary school curriculum for serving teachers should be waived."
Ivir Law pointed out that the Working Group recognised the need to preserve promotion prospects for non-graduates.
"However, in view of the complexity of the issues involved, it is recommended that the matter should continue to be pursued outside the Working Group, in order not to delay the implementation of other recommendations of the Working Group, in particular the appointment of primary graduate teachers in 1996-97.
"It is expected that the details should be worked out in time for the appointment of primary graduate teachers in 1997-98," Mr Law said.
The Working Group also recommended that starting from 1996-97, SMCs, instead of the Education Department (ED), should handle their own recruitment and appoint graduate teachers by themselves.
"The recommendation is made in response to an increasing demand from educational bodies for direct appointment of primary graduate teachers and in accordance with the Code of Aid for Primary Schools which states that the SMC is the employer of teachers in aided schools," said Mr Law.
The Education Department will soon issue circulars to both Government and aided schools on appointment of pre-service and serving teachers for 1996-97.
End