POSTING OF CHILDREN TO SCHOOLS

Mr Goh Tong Liang asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that parents who registered and expected their children to be in a certain English-language school found that their children had to go to other schools far away from their homes; and if he will state the reasons therefor.

Mr Chew Swee Kee: Sir, I am not sure what school the Member for Bukit Panjang is referring to. There are, however, certain areas where the demand for places in schools greatly exceeds the number of places available. It has therefore been necessary to direct some of the children to schools further from their homes than I should like. I have already made a public statement expressing my regret for any inconvenience caused, and my readiness to do what I could to remove any avoidable difficulty or to alleviate the worst hardships. But the basic trouble is that in areas like Pearl's Hill, there are not nearly enough schools for all the children, and few sites on which more schools can be built. I am doing what I can to improve the situation but no quick solution is possible.