I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £90,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1960, for Primary Education, including National School Teachers' Superannuation, etc.
This Supplementary Estimate is necessary to meet the cost of increases in the salaries and other grants payable to teachers in National Schools. The increases, which have been accorded with effect as from 1st January, 1960, arise from the acceptance of the agreed recommendations of the Conciliation Council for National Teachers, on a claim submitted by the teachers' side of the Council in accordance with the agreed scheme of conciliation and arbitration.
The claim of the national teachers was similar to the claims presented by other groups of public servants towards the end of the past calendar year. It was for compensation in respect of the increase in the cost of living between 1955 and 1959 additional to the compensation accorded already by the salary increases which had been granted in 1958.
The matter was considered by the Conciliation Council at meetings on the 7th and 9th January, 1960, as a result of which agreed recommendations were submitted in favour of revised scales of salary to operate as from 1st January, 1960. The agreed recommendations have been accepted by me with the approval of the Minister for Finance and consequential revisions have been made in the rates of grant to national schools paid on a capitation basis.
The additional cost of the revised scales of salary and rates of capitation grant in respect of some 13,800 teachers in national schools is estimated at £415,000 for a full year. The amount which will become payable in the present financial year is estimated at £95,000; it is anticipated that £5,000 will become available through an increase in appropriations-in-aid and the net additional sum required is, therefore, £90,000.
