EDUCATIONAL CORPS (REORGANISATION). (Hansard, 18 February 1931)

§ Mr. SHAW,

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 22nd January, 1931; col. 372, Vol. 247], supplied the following statement:

Reorganisation of the Army Educational Corps.

1. The Army Educational Corps, consisting of officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, was formed after the War in replacement of the Corps of Army Schoolmasters to provide increased facilities for the adult education of the soldier and (with the aid of Army schoolmistresses for girls' and infants' and junior boys' classes) to teach the children of soldiers in Army schools where civilian schools are not available. So far as adult education is concerned the system afford the soldier opportunity for progressive education up to that qualifying for a special certificate (university matriculation standard). The 1257W standard of attainment in Army children's schools is on a par with that in civil schools.

As regards the allotment of duties in the Corps, broadly speaking the officers of the Corps are engaged in the general organisation, inspection, administration and supervision of educational training in the Commands and in the inspection and administration of all Army children's schools; and in giving instruction at the Army schools of education and at certain other educational establishments, while up till now they have also performed some of the general teaching duties. The remainder of the teaching is carried out by warrant officers and sergeants of the Corps (aided so far as certain work is concerned by regimental officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers).

The present reorganisation of the Corps, while maintaining the general principles on which the work has been based has two main objects in view:

(a) To improve the prospects of the personnel of the Corps. Since the Corps was originally formed there has been a

A.—Present Establishment.
—	Lieut.-Colonels.	Majors.	Captains.	Subalterns.	Total Officers.	Warrant Officers, Class I.	Warrant Officers, Class II.	Serjeants.	Total other ranks.
Imperial	…	…	…	4	10	33	55	102	47	68	150	265
India	…	…	…	1	5	14	31	51	41	29	55	125
Total	…	…	…	5	15	47	86	153	88	97	205	390

B.—Future Establishment.
—	Colonels.	Lieut.-Colonels.	Majors.	Captains and Subalterns.	Education Officers.	Total Officers.	Warrant Officers Class I.	Warrant Officers Class II.	Serjeants.	Total other ranks.
Imperial	…	1	3	7	55	6	72	53	73	167	293
India^*	…	1	—	3	24	—	28	41	29	55	125
Total	…	2	3	10	79	6	100	94	102	222	418
^* Does not include the Indian Continuous Service Cadre of the Army Educational Corps which is to consist at present of 2 Majors, 12 Captains and Subalterns, increasing eventually to a probable total of 18 or 19 officers.

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steady reduction in its strength accompanied by great stagnation in promotion, and the lack of prospects has given rise to considerable dissatisfaction.

(b) To relieve the officers, normally, of all teaching duties, except for the instruction given at the Army Schools of Education and certain other educational establishments.

In the scheme of reorganisation the establishment of officers has been considerably reduced, the work of inspection and supervision being re-arranged. For the reduced establishment substantially better prospects are offered, both by the introduction of time promotion (for subalterns) and by increasing the emoluments of certain posts to correspond more fairly with the responsibilities now involved. On the other hand the actual teaching staff of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers has been increased, and additional opportunities have been afforded to them of promotion to commissioned rank. The reorganisation involves no extra cost to the State.

4. The present and future establishments of the Corps are as follow:

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As the strength of the officers of the Corps has for some time past been considerably under establishment, the number of officers rendered surplus by the reorganisation is only some 14 and these officers are being retired with special compensation terms.

5. The scheme provides for the improvements shown below in the pay and conditions of service of the personnel of the reorganised Corps (the provisions of this paragraph do not apply to officers of the Continuous Service Cadre in India referred to in paragraph 7, except where stated in that paragraph).

(i) Time promotion to the rank of captain will be given to lieutenants after 10 years' commissioned service. Under this rule all subalterns remaining in the Corps on reorganisation will be promoted to the rank of captain.
(ii) The temporary rank of captain, without captain's pay but with captain's allowances, will be granted to lieutenants (other than education officers) with seven years' commissioned service including one year's commissioned service in the Corps.
(iii) There will be two colonels' appointments, one on the Imperial establishment, and one on the Indian establishment. These appointments will carry pay at the rates laid down for 1st grade staff appointments plus (in the case of the colonel on the Imperial establishment) additional pay at 10s. a day and will be without a definite period of tenure.
(iv) Brevet promotion in the Corps will continue to be granted as at present in recognition of meritorious and distinguished service of an exceptional nature.
(v) Special rates of pay will be granted to officers holding certain appointments in the Imperial establishment of the Corps. These rates include 10s. a day in addition to the pay of rank for all lieut.-colonels of the Corps, and staff rates in lieu of regimental rates for certain appointments held by officers below that rank.
(vi) Six appointments as education officers, paid at the scale laid down for quartermasters, will be filled by the promotion of warrant officers, Class I, of the Corps.
(vii) There will be an additional number of appointments filled by warrant officers and sergeants of the Corps.
(viii) Compulsory retirement for officers will be at the age of 60 instead of 55 as at present.
(ix) Officers will be granted gratuities on retirement at the rate of £1,000 after 10 years', £1,500 after 15 years' and £1,800 after 18 years' service, in lieu of the rate of £1,000 after 10 years' service under the present regulations.

6. Army Educational Corps officers serving on a tour in India will receive the rates of pay applicable to regimental officers of the British service in India, plus a Departmental allowance varying according to rank. Holders of certain appointments will receive appropriate rates of additional pay over and above the foregoing emoluments.

7. In addition to the Army Educational Corps officers serving on a tour, the Secretary of State for India has sanctioned the formation of a continuous service cadre of the Army Educational Corps in India. The promotion of officers appointed to this cadre will be governed by the rules approved for officers of the Army Educational Corps, i.e., they will receive time promotion to the rank of captain and thereafter promotion pari passu with officers of the Army Educational Corps. The pay of officers of this special cadre will be at the rates applicable to Army Educational Corps officers serving on a tour in India, with Indian Army allowance in addition.

8. The new conditions will take effect from 1st February, 1931, for all officers selected for retention on the British establishment of the reorganised Corps. The date for the introduction of the new conditions for officers of the Indian establishment will be announced shortly.