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She noted that currently less than 70 per cent of graduate teachers were trained.

"The requirement would be introduced by phases to ensure no disruption to the supply of graduate teachers which would otherwise put at risk both the quality of the existing system and the feasibility of announced improvement measures to secondary education.

"By September 1, 1997, all holders of non-local degrees, or degree-equivalents, will require a local pre-service PGCE to become eligible for employment as graduate teachers.

"The same requirement would be extended to holders of local degrees by 'September 1, 2004, " Professor Lieh Mak said.

She pointed out that after the recommendations had been accepted by the Government, teachers currently holding such qualifications would become eligible to compete with other candidates for employment as graduate teachers.

"The Committee is aware that there are about 360 teachers holding degrees from the People's Republic of China or Taiwan plus local PGCEs teaching as non- graduates in our schools.

"The recommendations would, if accepted, enable them to apply for graduate teacher posts," She explained.

Other recommendations include that by September 1, 1997, holders of non- local Bachelor of Education degrees are required to possess a local PGCE before they become eligible for employment as graduate teachers. This is to ensure that graduate teachers holding such qualifications could teach up to senior secondary level.

The local PGCE can be obtained through in-service study and with appropriate exemptions to avoid double training.

Consistent with the Committee's belief in the importance of the training of teachers, the ACTEQ considers it reasonable to allow untrained teachers no more than five years to commit themselves to teaching and to complete a PGCE, through part- time study, if they are to progress in the profession.

"It recommends that by September 1, 1995 the existing salary bar, beyond which untrained teachers could not progress, be lowered from Master Pay Scale point 27 to point 22.