I move:
That the Secondary Teachers (Superannuation) (Amendment) Scheme, 1968 prepared by the Minister for Education with the consent of the Minister for Finance under section 5 of the Teachers Superannuation Act, 1928 and laid before the House on 7th March, 1968 be confirmed.
This amendment is being introduced in implementation of a recommendation by the Conciliation Council for Secondary Teachers at its meeting of 7th October, 1966. National teachers have enjoyed a similar privilege since 1962.
The amendment provides for the retention in approved teaching service of those members of the Secondary Teachers' Superannuation Scheme whose date of birth occurs in the last quarter of the school year for a period of not more than three months provided such retention enables these teachers to complete an additional year of service for pension purposes.
Only completed years of service as a member of the scheme are reckonable in the calculation of pension and gratuity and this amendment provides certain members who would normally retire with a year of service almost completed with the opportunity of completing the year. It comes into force on or after 31st July, 1966. I think it will be generally welcomed by the secondary teaching profession as bringing them into line with the primary teachers in this respect.
