XN000022-1978-05-20 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

JOBS FOR REDUNDANT TEACHERS ******

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S PLACEMENT SERVICE ON MONDAY (MAY 22) WILL BEGIN REGISTERING ABOUT 400 TEACHERS WHO WILL BE MADE REDUNDANT FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF CLASSES IN SUBSIDISED PRIMARY SCHOOLS NEXT SEPTEMBER.

THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SERVICE, MR. CHAN SAI-BUN, SAID TODAY THAT THE TEACHERS HAD BEEN NOTIFIED IN WRITING THAT THEY MUST REGISTER BY 5 P.M. ON FRIDAY, MAY 26.

+THE TEACHERS HAVE BEEN MADE REDUNDANT THROUGH POPULATION SHIFTS AND THE PHASING OUT OF UNDER-USED CLASSES RESULTING FROM A GENERAL DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN OF PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE, HE SAID.

MR. CHAN STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE PLACEMENT SERVICE DID ITS BEST TO FIND JOBS FOR REDUNDANT TEACHERS, IT COULD NOT GUARANTEE EMPLOYMENT.

+ THE SERVICE MERELY IDENTIFIES VACANCIES AND BRINGS TOGETHER SCHOOL MANAGERS AND TEACHERS IN AN EFFORT TO SOLVE MUTUAL PROBLEMS, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, MR. CHAN SAID HE HOPED TO ABSORB HALF OF THE 400 REDUNDANT TEACHERS IN ADDITIONAL SPECIAL CLASSES IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND WITH THE OPENING OF NEW CLASSES IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS IN NEW TOWNS AND HOUSING ESTATES, AND IN AREAS WITH SHORTAGES OF AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES.

+ THE REMAINING 200 COULD PROBABLY BE ABSORBED IN VACANCIES EXPECTED TO RESULT FROM NORMAL WASTAGE, SUCH AS RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS AND DEATHS, HE SAID.

MR. CHAN SAID THAT, DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE PLACEMENT SERVICE HAD FOUND POSITIONS IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR 752 TEACHERS WHO CAME FORWARD FOR REGISTRATION.

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