Should teachers be allowed to park their cars free in school?
The new education minister, Ong Ye Kung, is caught in this dilemma. He said that this issue was brought up by the Auditor General who has reported over a few years that the free parking is an infringement of the government's "clean wage" policy.
The minister is caught in a bind - damned if you do, damned if you don't.
He has another problem. If free parking is allowed, who gets to use the space? It is likely that there are more teachers driving a car, compared to the space available. Which teachers gets to use the free space? Should it be the most senior teachers in rank or in service?
Some space has to be set aside for parents, vendors and other visitors.
A few weeks ago, I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd. Here is a summary of the votes:
48% - they should continue to enjoy the free parking
22% - they should pay a parking fee to be fair to teachers who do not use the space
19% - it should be left to the principal to decide
11% - it should be decided by the government.
There is no clear concensus on this issue. However, most people think that the minister does not need to be involved.
My view is - the minister should provide the guideline, but the actual decision should be left to the principal.
The guideline should state that a fee should be charged, but not at the market rate. The principal may exempt the fee for teachers who has to use the car in the course of duty.
In turn, the principal may form a committee of teachers to decide on the allocation - this is call "democracy at work".
Do you think that my approach is better than that adopted by the minister?
Tan Kin Lian
The new education minister, Ong Ye Kung, is caught in this dilemma. He said that this issue was brought up by the Auditor General who has reported over a few years that the free parking is an infringement of the government's "clean wage" policy.
The minister is caught in a bind - damned if you do, damned if you don't.
He has another problem. If free parking is allowed, who gets to use the space? It is likely that there are more teachers driving a car, compared to the space available. Which teachers gets to use the free space? Should it be the most senior teachers in rank or in service?
Some space has to be set aside for parents, vendors and other visitors.
A few weeks ago, I asked this question in the Wisdom of the Crowd. Here is a summary of the votes:
48% - they should continue to enjoy the free parking
22% - they should pay a parking fee to be fair to teachers who do not use the space
19% - it should be left to the principal to decide
11% - it should be decided by the government.
There is no clear concensus on this issue. However, most people think that the minister does not need to be involved.
My view is - the minister should provide the guideline, but the actual decision should be left to the principal.
The guideline should state that a fee should be charged, but not at the market rate. The principal may exempt the fee for teachers who has to use the car in the course of duty.
In turn, the principal may form a committee of teachers to decide on the allocation - this is call "democracy at work".
Do you think that my approach is better than that adopted by the minister?
Tan Kin Lian
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