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    Following is a question by the Hon Audrey Eu and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (April 20):

Question:

    Will the Government provide this Council with the following statistics:

(a) on teachers who joined the 2005 Early Retirement Scheme for Aided Primary School Teachers, the applications for which closed on March 5 this year:

* Number of Scheme participants

* Average age

* Shortest teaching experience

* Longest teaching experience

* Average teaching experience

* Number of degree holders

* Number of persons having passed the Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers

* Highest amount of compensation and number of persons involved

* Lowest amount of compensation and number of persons involved

* Average amount of compensation

* Total amount of compensation; and

(b) on primary school teachers who are currently employed on contract terms:

* Number of persons

* Shortest teaching experience

* Longest teaching experience

* Average teaching experience

* Lowest salary

* Highest salary

* Average salary

* Number of degree holders

* Number of persons having passed the Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers ?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The statistics about the participants of the 2005 Early Retirement Scheme for Aided Primary School Teachers are as follows:

* Number of participants: 611

* Average age: 52

* Shortest teaching experience: 10 years

* Longest teaching experience: 37 years

* Average teaching experience: 26 years

* Number of degree holders: 178

* Number of persons having met the Language Proficiency Requirement for teachers: 29 (English) & 29 (Putonghua)

* Highest amount of ex-gratia payment and number of persons involved: $741,180 ^ (3 persons)

* Lowest amount of ex-gratia payment and number of persons involved: $34,920 ^ (1 person)

* Average amount of ex-gratia payment: around: $283,000 ^

* Total amount of ex-gratia payment: around $173 million ^

^ The exact figures will not be available until August 2005 when the last substantive salaries of teachers concerned are confirmed.

(b) The relevant information about temporary teachers in aided primary schools who are paid on a monthly basis is as follows:

* Number of persons: 882

* Shortest teaching experience: (unavailable)

* Longest teaching experience: (unavailable)

* Average teaching experience: (unavailable)

* Lowest salary: $15,215 (monthly)

* Highest salary: $29,100 (monthly)

* Average salary: $19,766 (monthly)

* Number of degree holders: 300

* Number of persons having met the Language Proficiency Requirement for teachers: (unavailable)

Ends/Wednesday, April 20, 2005

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