(Religious Instruction)

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi asked the Minister for Education how many periods per week are given to religious instruction in Malay Schools, and whether the syllabus is in line with that in the Federation of Malaya.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: One period per week of 30 minutes is given to the teaching of the Islamic Religion in Malay Schools. This conforms with the curriculum structure common to all Primary Schools. The religious instruction syllabus has been carefully drawn up by a small committee of religious teachers in the Malay Schools who are advised by Inche Ustaz Ahmad Sunhaji bin Muhammad, teacher in the Al-Junied Religious School. The syllabus is designed to meet the needs of Singapore pupils and the pattern of the Federation syllabus is not followed in every respect.