ART AND MUSIC STUDENTS BECOMING TEACHERS OF THESE SUBJECTS

ART AND MUSIC STUDENTS BECOMING TEACHERS OF THESE SUBJECTS: 20.

Ms Audrey Wong Wai Yen asked the Minister for Education (a) in the past five years, what are the numbers of students who have taken Art and Music as a subject at GCE 'O' and 'A' levels; (b) how many of these students have chosen to join the teaching profession; and (c) of these students who have joined the teaching profession, how many of them are teaching Art and Music in our primary and secondary schools.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for Education): In the past five years, 2006 to 2010, an average of 3,300 and 340 students took Art and Music respectively at the O-level. The average candidature of Art and Music at the A-level was 170 and 60 respectively.

It is still too early to tell how many of these students will eventually apply to be teachers as many of them are still pursuing their tertiary education.

As of March 2011, there are close to 1,050 trained Art and Music teachers across the levels in our schools, 1,000 of whom are teaching at the primary and secondary level. Sixty percent of all our Art and Music teachers had studied Art or Music at the O- or A-levels. The rest would have attained other relevant qualifications in Art and Music from recognised boards, diploma or degree-awarding institutions.