FREE EDUCATION FOR MALAYS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS (Estimated Expenditure in 1960)

Dato Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat asked the Minister for Education what is the estimated expenditure on free education for Malays in secondary schools in 1960, and whether free education includes the provision of textbooks and exemption from payment of fees for extra-curricular activities.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, there is an estimated number of 4,700 Malay pupils attending post primary and secondary schools in the English and Malay streams in Singapore. Since free secondary education for Malays will be restricted to those who are either born in Singapore or are children of Singapore citizens, not all the 4,700 Malay pupils will qualify for free secondary education. But on the basis of 4,000, say, the total estimated loss in revenue for remission of school fees would be in the region of $150,000 per annum.

The free secondary education scheme for Malays will not include free textbooks nor exemption from payment of fees for extra-curricular activities. The present free textbook loan scheme will continue to operate in accordance with the means test applicable to all children, that is:

(a) if the family income is below $150 per month, and two or three children are attending school, or

(b) if the family income is less than $200 per month, and four or more children attend school.

The total 1960 vote for the free textbook loan scheme is $150,000, of which $50,000 is for secondary schools. According to 1959 experience, this sum should be adequate for 1960. Should it prove inadequate during the course of the year, an application for supplementary vote will be made as usual.

As regards the remission of miscellaneous fees for extra-curricular activities, the discretion will continue to be exercised by principals of schools.

Dato Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat (Geylang Serai): Will the Minister inform the House whether this figure of $150,000 for the textbook loan scheme includes provision for all school children in secondary schools, or is it meant only for Malay students in secondary schools?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I stated that the total 1960 vote for the free textbook loan scheme is $150,000, of which $50,000 is applicable to secondary schools and is meant for all secondary schools, not necessarily Malay pupils. I would further add that there is a special quota for Malay pupils, in that they get a double quota - that is, if the enrolment in a certain school deserves a book loan of $300, that school would have its loan increased to $600 if its pupils are composed entirely of Malays. A double quota is especially made for Malay pupils in our schools.