Teachers want higher retiring age returned

Press, 22 October 1984, Page 10

Teachers want higher retiring age returned

PA Wellington Post primary teachers want the Government to repeal legislation giving school boards the power to dismiss teachers when they reach 60. The Post-Primary Teachers’ Association believes the age should remain at 65. The legislation is in a clause of the Education Amendment Act, 1983, introduced by the previous Minister of Education, Mr Wellington. The clause was passed in the face of strong opposition from the association, the association says. It rejected the argument that the clause would be useful to remove incom-

petent older teachers, saying that incompetende could apply at any age. The association has since adopted a retirement policy favouring a retirement age of 65, with voluntary early retirement possible from 50 onwards. The assistant general secretary of the association, Mr Kevin Bunker, said that there was no < reason why that policy should not be endorsed. It was clear that the Education Department so far had no brief from the new Minister or the Government on the issue. Mr Bunker said the clause in the Education Amendment Act had confused what was once a clear and workable policy.

‘‘The amendment needs to be repealed. A return to the ~ previous position would en- . able us to discuss a retire- ' meat policy sensibly.” The association would approach the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, seeking repeal and a discussion of', retirement policy. • Mr Bunker said the de-f. partment had circulated a . paper proposing a compulsory retirement age of 60 as a discussion point, but the association strongly objected to this. Employers of teachers had indicated some support for a retirement age of 60, but with flexibility for teachers to remain after that age to meet staffing needs, he said.