NUMBER OF CHILDREN ADMITTED INTO 1961 FIRST YEAR PRIMARY CLASSES AND PRIORITY FOR ADMISSION OF CHILDREN LIVING NEAR SCHOOL ALTHOUGH IN DIFFERENT POSTAL DISTRICT

Mr Thio Chan Bee asked the Minister for Education (a) how many children were admitted into the 1961 First Year Primary Classes in (i) Government, and (ii) Aided English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil Schools; and (b) whether for next year any priority would be given for the admission of children living within a few hundred yards of a school although in a different postal district.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of children admitted into the 1961 First Year Primary Classes were as follows: (i) (ii) Government. Aided. Total. English 21,433 4,109 25,542 Chinese 2,020 18,503 20,523 Malay 3,868 - 3,868 Tamil 18 217 235 ------ ------ ------ 27,339 22,829 50,168 ------ ------ ------

As for question (b), priority will be given to children when registering for admission to 1962 Primary I classes, if they live within a few hundred yards of a school although situate in a different postal district.