XN000022-1973-05-08 — Page 4

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Tuesday, May 8, 1973

The Morgan report noted that since 1970 the qualifications of

all students entering the colleges had been well above the minimum

requirement. But research has revealed that this has been the case for

many years, This point was emphasised by the Church leaders who pointed

out that as a result of this trend the higher standards envisaged in the Morgan report had already been achieved by teachers graduating from the colleges.

"It has been agreed therefore that it would be now justifiable to introduce the $1,250 starting point", the Government spokesman said.

Extra Scale

Turning to the position at the top of the scale the spokesman

said that the Morgan working group, in recommending the extra scale, had recognised the unique position of a large number of Certificated

Masters at the top of the scale.

The Working Group proposed an extra scale for such teachers from $1,750 to $1,975 over a period of 11 years. This recommendation

was accepted in March this year but the points on this extra scale were brought onto the master pay scale, raising the maximum to $2,050.

The Church leaders pointed out that although the promotion

prospects for Certificated Masters had improved considerably, the majority

of them would nevertheless move onto this extra scale and would have to

wait 11 years to reach the top of it. The Church leaders advised that

in their opinion the wait was too long and insistence on it could well

have an adverse effect on the morale of this grade of teachers which was the largest in the profession.

This could