XN000022-1977-07-06 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1977

SINCE THE INTRODUCTION IN 1971 OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION, THE NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAS FALLEN FROM 102 TO THE PRESENT FIGURE OF 70. ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY PROJECTIONS THIS DECLINING TREND IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE.

ENROLMENTS HAVE DROPPED FROM 75,113 IN 1971 TO 35,158 IN SEPTEMBER 1976. LATEST REGISTRATION FIGURES SHOW THAT THERE WILL BE A FURTHER DECLINE OF ANOTHER 5,000 IN SEPTEMBER 1977. THE DROP IN ENROLMENTS RELATES TO THE FALL IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE 6 - 11 YEAR OLD AGE GROUP, FROM 631,000 IN 1971 TO 499,800 IN 1976.

THEREFORE SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS BEING EXPENDED ON SALARIES TO SURPLUS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE SPENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE DIRECTOR IN CONSIDERING THE SCOPE FOR REDEVELOPMENT BELIEVES THAT THE 1,100 SURPLUS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS WOULD BE REQUIRED IN OTHER AREAS WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OR IN OTHER POSTS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE PROVIDED THEY COME FORWARD AND ARE FOUND SUITABLE.

SURPLUS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO BE REDEPLOYED BY AUGUST 31, 1980 WILL BE RETIRED FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE ON GROUNDS OF ABOLITION OF OFFICE. ANY SURPLUS TEACHER MAY RETIRE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. UNDER THE PENSIONS REGULATIONS AN OFFICER WHOSE OFFICE IS ABOLISHED AND WHO RETIRES FROM SERVICE MAY RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL PENSION.

THE IMPLICATIONS ARE THAT GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS WILL BE FACED WITH A NUMBER OF CHOICES - TO CONTINUE TEACHING IN GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO RETIRE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN 1980, APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST BEFORE THAT DATE, OR APPLYING FOR ANOTHER POST IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OR ELSEWHERE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE RETAINING THEIR PRESENT SALARY SCALE IF IT IS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

WHATEVER THE CHOICE BY THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER, IT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND SELECTION BASED ON WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND SUITABILITY.

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THREE YEARS' NOTICE OF A PROBLEM OF SUCH MAGNITUDE AND COMPLEXITY WAS CONSIDERED FAIR TO THE STAFF CONCERNED.

HE ADDED THAT THE DIRECTOR WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO KEEP THE BEST PEOPLE HE COULD FIND TO STAFF WHATEVER THE NUMBER OF REMAINING GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS. THEREFORE THE DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE TO REDEPLOY STAFF ON A SELECTIVE BASIS AND KEEPING THE SERVICES OF BETTER QUALIFIED STAFF.

THE DIRECTOR WILL CONSULT THE STAFF SIDE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL AS TO HOW BEST TO IMPLEMENT THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THE CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL AND INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS HAVE BEEN INFORMED, AND DISCUSSION WILL CONTINUE.