TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS (Distribution and use)

Mr Seah Peng Chuan asked the Minister for Education-

(a) whether technical equipment for secondary schools had been received in Singapore under the Colombo Plan in 1953 and has still not been distributed to the schools;

(b) whether technical equipment for secondary technical schools had been purchased and received by the Singapore Government in 1953 and has still not been distributed to the technical schools; and

(c) if he will make a statement on the extent of technical equipment for secondary technical schools donated to and/or purchased by the Government since 1953 which is not being used, and the action he intends to take in connection therewith.

Mr Chew Swee Kee: Sir, I will divide my answer into two parts. The first part is none of the equipment referred to in the question was received or purchased for secondary technical schools.

Second, technical schools were not proposed until late 1954, and the first of them was not completed until 1956. It was Government's original intention in 1952 to build two trade schools similar to the Balestier Road Junior Trade School. In late 1953, Government approved the creation of a new post of Assistant Director of Education (Technical) and accepted the idea of the building of a Polytechnic which would provide technical education at the highest level. The Assistant Director of Education (Technical) on arrival in the Colony in late 1954, reviewed the situation in view of the need for a bridge between the primary school and the Polytechnic not provided by the trade schools, and advised the setting up of two secondary technical schools in place of the proposed two trade schools. Government accepted the suggestion and two secondary technical schools were built and began operating in January 1956.

In the meantime, in 1952 and 1953, apparatus and equipment for trade schools had been requested from Australia under the Colombo Plan and ordered against Government funds. A fair proportion of the equipment and apparatus requested and purchased was unsuitable for secondary technical schools since the latter type of schools does not provide trade training. The answers to the specific questions are:

(a) the first Colombo Plan equipment was received in 1954;

(b) technical equipment for trade schools was purchased from Government funds; and

(c) the approximate value of the above apparatus and equipment is as follows:

(i) purchased by Government by indents placed with the Crown Agents in 1952 and 1953, and delivered in 1953 and 1954 was approximately $120,000; and

(ii) received under the Colombo Plan from requests made in 1953 was approximately $24,000.

The following action is to be taken: Part of the equipment purchased from Government funds will be sold to the Polytechnic; part of the equipment to be used for equipping an afternoon school providing a one-year artisan course for over-age school leavers; and part to be transferred when staff are appointed to the schools to undertake woodwork and metal work in preparation for the General Certificate of Education examination.

No request for Colombo Plan gifts for secondary technical schools has been made, and all equipment and apparatus purchased from Government funds for secondary technical schools by orders placed since 1954 is now in use at the schools.