MALAY SECONDARY SCHOOL

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Education whether a Malay secondary school is scheduled to be built in 1956.

Mr Chew Swee Kee: Government is in the process of building a number of new secondary schools this year, and it is possible that one of these may be set aside as a Malay secondary school.

Mr John Ede: Sir, will the Minister indicate what are the extent of the possibilities?

Mr Chew Swee Kee: I do not understand the question.

Mr John Ede: The Minister said that it was possible that one of these secondary schools would be a Malay secondary school. What are the probabilities?

Mr Chew Swee Kee: The probabilities lie within two factors. As soon as the buildings are completed, one of them may be set aside as a Malay secondary school. When the number of classes in the Malay secondary schools increases, they will be housed in this new Malay secondary school.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Could the Minister define what is a Malay school?

Mr Speaker: It is a different question.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: The Hon. the Minister for Education mentioned that the probabilities lie between two factors. Is there not another factor - the fact that, as he said, he may not be able to get a sufficient number of teachers?

Mr Chew Swee Kee: For one Malay secondary school I am able to find enough teachers for the time being but not for a long period or for any more secondary schools.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: If that were so, Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister for Education tell us why he has been having trouble with some Malay students, because they claimed they wanted to be taught in Malay?

Mr Speaker: It is a different question.