§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary if special promotion is still being given by the Commissioners of National Education to national school teachers; and, if so, on what conditions; and if assistant teachers can now be appointed and receive full salary in national schools having an average daily attendance of over forty and less than fifty pupils?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that teachers are being specially promoted, but not to the first grade in the case of men. Teachers of exceptional merit and length of service are specially promoted when the circumstances seem to the Commissioners to warrant it. Each claim for special promotion is considered on its merits, the size of the school and the length of the teacher's service being taken into account. A high standard of efficiency is required in all such cases. No new580W appointment of an assistant teacher in a school can be sanctioned by the Commissioners where the average attendance is only forty; but in a school in which there is an assistant already recognised, the Grant is not withdrawn so long as the average attendance reaches forty.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether he is yet in a position to state if arrangements have been made by which in future national school teachers can be paid their salaries monthly instead of quarterly, as is the case in every other branch of the public service?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir. I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject.