XN000022-1976-05-14 — Page 4

FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1976

STRICTER PROMOTION OF PUPILS

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FAVOURS A FLEXIBLE APPROACH TO THE PRESENT MAXIMUM FIGURE OF 6 PER CENT OF CHILDREN IN A SCHOOL BEING PERMITTED TO REPEAT A YEAR IF NECESSARY.

PROVISION OF CLERICAL SUPPORT

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THIS RECOMMENDATION IN PRINCIPLE, AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF OTHER PRIORITIES.

CONDITIONS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS

THE USE OF SUB-STANDARD ACCOMMODATION IN RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS AND ON ROOF-TOPS IS BEING REDUCED AS NEW PURPOSE- BUILT SCHOOLS BECOME AVAILABLE AND AS THE PRIMARY SCHOOL POPULATION FALLS,

PROVISION OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

A VIGOROUS PROGRAMME OF SEMINARS AND REFRESHER COURSES FOR TEACHERS IS MOUNTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. IN-SERVICE COURSES OF TRAINING FOR MORE THAN 500 UNDER-QUALIFIED TEACHERS ARE MOUNTED ANNUALLY AND THE THIRD-YEAR COURSES AT COLLEGES OF EDUCATION ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE CAREER PROSPECTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

TRANSFER PROCEDURES

THIS RECOMMENDATION CALLS FOR IMPROVED POSTING AND TRANSFER PROCEDURES WITHIN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS TO AVOID CAUSING UNDUE HARDSHIP TO TEACHERS. THE DEPARTMENT IS REVIEWING THIS ASPECT OF ITS PROCEDURES. AN AIDED SCHOOLS' STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL COULD ALSO CONSIDER THIS MATTER

IN DEPTH.

THE PROVISION OF LOANS FROM THE TWO SCHOOLS' PROVIDENT FUNDS TO ASSIST TEACHERS TO PURCHASE FLATS IS NOT ACCEPTED, SINCE THE TOTAL RESOURCES OF THE FUNDS WOULD NOT PERMIT ALL CONTRIBUTORS TO RECEIVE WORTHWHILE LOANS.

A FURTHER OBJECTION IS THAT THE GRANTING OF LOANS WOULD REDUCE BOTH THE CAPITAL GAINS AND THE RECURRENT EARNINGS OF THE FUNDS AND REDUCE THE OVERALL RETURN TO CONTRIBUTORS.

THE PROPOSAL AND THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND CERTAIN TEACHERS' REPRESENTATIVES, SO FAR, THE LATTER HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DEMONSTRATE A WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR USING THE FUNDS IN THIS WAY, NOR TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED.

REGARDING THE