XN000022-1981-04-29 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1981

PLEA FOR MORE TEACHERS

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THE REV THE HON JOYCE M. BENNETT AGAIN PRESSED THE GOVERNMENT TO RE-EXAMINE ITS EDUCATIONAL POLICY FOR STRENGTHENING THE PERSONNEL IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE AND IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

SPEAKING AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE 1981 APPROPRIATION BILL AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, SHE CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT'S REPLIES TO HER QUESTIONS CONCERNING EDUCATIONAL POLICY WHICH SHE RAISED DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.

SAID MISS BENNETT: THE OFFICIAL ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS ATTEMPTED TO COVER UP ITS WEAKNESSES, WHILE INDICATING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES WERE NOT INTENDED, AND I QUOTE, 'TO SUGGEST THAT SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED SOONER'.

+ IN MY SPEECH ON MARCH 251 MADE A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS OF SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS.

+ BUT AS THESE SUGGESTIONS WERE NOT FULLY EXAMINED OR IN SOME CASES NOT EVEN CONSIDERED AT ALL, I WISH NOW TO REITERATE WAYS IN WHICH I BELIEVE WE CAN, WITHOUT GREAT EXPENSE, IMPROVE THE CONTENT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL POLICY.+

IN HER EARLIER SPEECH, MISS BENNETT ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER PROVIDING ONE CAREERS TEACHER FOR EACH STANDARD-SIZE SECONDARY SCHOOL AND TO RECOGNISE THE POST OF SENIOR MASTER OR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL AS EXTRA TO THE STAFFING.

SHE FURTHER SUGGESTED ONE TO THREE SUCH POSTS, AT THE NEW EDUCATION OFFICER LEVEL, ACCORDING TO THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL.

+OUR GOVERNMENT'S ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO COST PROPERLY THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL STAFF DONE OUTSIDE THE IR SCHOOLS.

+ IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES PROMOTED BY GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY BODIES ARE DONE BY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

+ADD UP THE COST IN MANY HOURS AND THOSE ORGANISATIONS WOULD HAVE FAR HEAVIER COSTS, SHE SAID.

SCHOOL TEACHERS, MISS BENNETT EXPLAINED, ATTEND SPORTING ACTIVITIES, CDO SPONSORED DEBATES AND COMPETITIONS, AND GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNS REQUIRING THE IR HELP AS ASSISTANTS.

SCHOOL PRINCIPALS HAVE ALSO TO ACT AS ADVISERS AT JUVENILE COURTS, AS ASSESSORS IN OTHER MAGISTRATE COURTS AND ATTEND EXAMINATION AUTHORITY MEETINGS, AREA COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER ACTIVITIES.

+ I WOULD NOT HAVE IT OTHERWISE, HOW ELSE WOULD I BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON PLEADING WITH YOU FOR MORE STAFF IN OUR

SCHOOLS?

/+OVER THE