XN000022-1977-07-22 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1977

NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS' VIEWS GIVEN TOP-LEVEL CONSIDERATION

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THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. ERIC HO, TODAY ASSURED GOVERNMENT NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS THAT TOP LEVEL CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THEIR VIEWS ON THE FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

HE GAVE THE ASSURANCE IN A REPLY TO LETTERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS' UNION ADDRESSED TO THE GOVERNOR, THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICERS IN WHICH THE UNION REQUESTED NEGOTIATIONS ON THE PROPOSED MEASURES TO REDUCE THE SURPLUS OF GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

MR. HO SAID THE UNION'S VIEWS EXPRESSED IN DECLARATIONS IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL HAD BEEN CONSIDERED BY BOTH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THEIR DELIBERATIONS ON THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION ON CERTIFICATED MASTERS.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACTED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY TAKING MEASURES TO ELIMINATE THE MOUNTING COST TO PUBLIC FUNDS ARISING FROM THE RETENTION OF SURPLUS TEACHERS. AT THE SAME TIME, THESE MEASURES PAY DUE REGARD TO THE INTERESTS OF THE TEACHERS.

+FIRSTLY, THE RETENTION OF A PERMANENT GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SECTOR WILL ENABLE SOME GOVERNMENT TEACHERS TO CONTINUE IN THEIR PRESENT WORK WITHOUT THE LOSS OF GOVERNMENT TERMS OF SERVICE, WHEREAS THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD HAVE MEANT THAT ALL GOVERNMENT PRIMARY TEACHERS WOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED COMPULSORILY TO THE AIDED SECTOR, HE SAID.

+THE CHANCES ARE THEREFORE PARTICULARLY GOOD FOR TEACHERS WITH CERTAIN SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS OR TWO YEARS OF TRAINING WHO WISH TO REMAIN PART OF THE PERMANENT GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SECTOR.+

MR. HO NOTED THAT AS THE GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN MORE THAN THREE YEARS' NOTICE OF ITS DECISION TO INTRODUCE COMPULSORY RETIREMENT IN AUGUST 1980, TEACHERS AFFECTED WOULD HAVE AMPLE TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDEPLOYMENT THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE INTERIM PERIOD OR TO TAKE OTHER STEPS TO SAFEGUARD THE IR FUTURE.

+ IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 1,100 ALTERNATIVE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN FORECAST ARE WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. THOSE SELECTED FOR THE JOBS THAT WILL BE OFFERED IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OR IN SPECIAL EDUCATION WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AS GOVERNMENT TEACHERS, WHILE THOSE SELECTED FOR THE REMAINING JOBS - SUCH AS IN THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AND IN THE STUDENT COUNSELLING SCHEME WILL BE ENGAGED ON IMPORTANT WORK RELATED TO EDUCATION.

+FURTHERMORE, SUITABLE GOVERNMENT PRIMARY TEACHERS WILL BE GIVEN PREFERENTIAL CONSIDERATION OVER OTHER CANDIDATES FOR JOBS IN OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,

/+TEACHERS WHO

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