XN000022-1977-07-06 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1977

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED A WHOLE RANGE OF CAREERS OPEN TO SURPLUS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, IN EDUCATION AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE. THERE ARE MANY NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS WHOSE SCHOOLS NOW HAVE LESS PUPILS BECAUSE OF THE DECLINING BIRTH RATE AND POPULATION MOVEMENT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NEW OPENINGS COULD INCLUDE TEACHING IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL CLASSES, WORKING IN THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, IN LIBRARIES IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND INSTITUTES, IN THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, CARRYING OUT STUDENT COUNSELLING IN SCHOOLS OR TAKING UP A NEW CAREER IN ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PROBLEM OF SURPLUS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS HAD BEEN OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, FOR SOME TIME.

THE DIRECTOR WAS PLEASED THAT THESE NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE SURPLUS CERTIFICATED MASTERS OR MISTRESSES.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES COINCIDES WITH AN ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL THAT THERE WILL BE NO DECENTRALISATION, OR DISESTABLISHMENT, OF GOVERNMENT PRIMARY

SCHOOLS.

+THIS MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE A PERMANENT GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THIS DECISION WAS MADE AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE MATTER BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND CAREFUL STUDY BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION ON CERTIFICATED MASTERS IN 1973. THE BOARD ALSO CONSIDERED THE VIEWS ON THE SPECIAL COMMISSION'S REPORT EXPRESSED BY THE STAFF SIDE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DECISION OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL CARRIED THE RIDER THAT IF THE PUPIL POPULATION OF GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS CONTINUED TO DECLINE, THE OPERATION OF EMPTY SCHOOLS WITH TEACHERS ON THE PAY ROLL COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ANNUAL SALARY BILL OF TEACHERS SURPLUS TO OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT IS CURRENTLY RUNNING AT ABOUT $30 MILLION A YEAR.

AT PRESENT THE NUMBER OF SURPLUS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IS MORE THAN 650 AND BY SEPTEMBER 1980 IT COULD BE IN THE REGION OF 1,100.

/SINCE THE