SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE FAILURES (Educational Facilities)

Mr William Tan asked the Minister for Education whether he will make a statement regarding the educational facility for those school-children who failed in the secondary school entrance examination.

Mr Chew Swee Kee: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Tiong Bahru knows as well as any other Member in this Assembly that the Government's education policy has been to provide free primary education for all those who want it in the proper age group. Those born on 1st January, 1956, or after are within this proper age group and even if they failed the entrance examination, they will be allowed to remain in school for another year.

I must stress that the Government cannot afford to provide secondary education for everyone who demands it. However, Government is doing all it can within the limits of possibility to find places for all those who were born between 1st January, 1945 and 1st January. 1946, in other institutions such as the Trade School, Government evening schools, private schools, commercial schools and now afternoon schools. I have evolved a plan to absorb all these children and I hope to finalise all the arrangements by 1st February, 1959. This in effect fulfils Government's declared policy of providing a six-year free primary education as well as keeping off the streets all those children who are 14 or under and all those who failed the recent Government entrance examination in 1958.