XN000022-1982-10-22 — Page 4

PRIDAY,

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ANOTHER MAJOR SERVICE LISTED BY THE DIRECTOR WAS THE PROV IS ION OF STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS FOR PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS FOR PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO ADVISE AND COUNSEL CHILDREN WHO MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE OR WHO, FOR ANY REASON, COULD NOT BE HANDLED BY THE SCHOOLS. THIS SERVICE NOW COVERS ALMOST 100 PER CENT OF ALL PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

MR HAYE SAID HE APPRECIATED THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS RELIED VERY HEAVILY ON THEIR FEE REVENUE TO PAY THEIR TEACHERS ADEQUATE SALARIES AND TO FINANCE IMPROVEMENTS.

+EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A VERY CAREFUL EXERCISE IN APPROVING FEE INCREASES IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND EVERY PRIVATE SCHOOL APPLICATION RECEIVES INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION,

+WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS' SALARIES MATCH INFLATION AND THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE SALARIES OF TEACHERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. IN ADDITION WE PROVIDE A MARGIN WHICH IS SYMPATHETICALLY FLEXIBLE TO GIVE TEACHERS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS MORE SO THAT THEY WILL REMAIN TO SERVE IN THE SCHOOLS IN WHICH THEY ARE EMPLOYED.

+ IF WE ARE ASSURED THAT TEACHERS ARE INDEED GETTING INCREASES WHICH DO NOT PLACE TOO GREAT A STRAIN ON PARENTS, WE APPROVE FEE

INCREASES.

+OF COURSE THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT I WISH TO EMPHASISE THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE KEY TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS MUST BE ADEQUATE SALARIES FOR THE TEACHERS OF THESE SCHOOLS, AND THAT WE DO REFLECT THIS WHEN WE APPROVE INCREASE OF FEES EACH YEAR, MR HAYE SAID.

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS COME INTO OPERATION SOON

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A SET OF REGULATIONS ON THE SAFE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON DECEMBER 1, ACCORDING TO A NOTIFICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (ELECTRICITY) REGULATIONS 1982 WERE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLY THIS YEAR, BUT WERE NOT BROUGHT INTO OPERATION IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO ALLOW PROPRIETORS TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS.

THE REGULATIONS, HE SAID, PRESCRIBE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE SAFETY IN THE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS, AND PLACE ON THE PROPRIETOR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING THAT HIS ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND APPARATUS ARE IN SAFE WORKING ORDER,

THE REGULATIONS ALSO DEAL WITH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE INSULATION AND THE SAFEGUARDING OF CONDUCTORS, THE CONSTRUCTION OF SWITCHES AND SWITCHBOARDS, SWITCH FUSES, CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND ISOLATING LINKS, MEANS OF COLATING VOLTAGE AND MEANS OF PREVENTING ELECTRICAL SHOCK AND FIRE.