CHINESE SECONDARY EDUCATION (Four-Year system)

Mr Wong Soon Fong asked the Minister for Education what consideration was given to Government's proposal to introduce the 4-year system for Chinese secondary education by the Education Advisory Council before June, 1961.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is necessary, first of all to state that there is no such thing as a"4-year system for Chinese secondary education". It is either a 3-3 or 4-2 system.

After publication of the 1955 All-Party Report on Chinese Education whereby the principle of equal treatment for four language streams was first announced, the officials of the Ministry of Education started work on syllabuses together with the assistance of some Chinese principals and teachers to introduce the 4-2 system in. place of the 3-3 system to achieve the desired basis of equal treatment. These syllabuses were published in 1958 and 1959. On 1st November, 1958, all principals of Chinese secondary schools were consulted regarding the proposed change over. Subsequently, on 28th February, 1959, schools were advised by circular No. Ed. 2195/58/18 announcing a gradual phasing of the change-over so that those admitted to secondary schools in 1958 would take the first Government Secondary 4 examination in 1961 (this year), but those admitted in 1956 and 1957 on the 3-3 system would take the Government Senior Middle 3 examination in 1961 (this year) and failures would take the last examination in 1962.

The 4-2 system was already in progress four months before the P.A.P. Government took office and nine months before the first Educational Advisory Council was appointed in November 1959. As this Government fully supports the principle of equal treatment underlying the 4-2 system and as there was no public demand for a review of the system until June this year, the fateful month with the "parting of ways" mentioned by the Prime Minister, there was no occasion to refer the matter to the Educational Advisory Council prior to this date. But arising out of the controversy, reference to the Educational Advisory Council was made on 24th August, 1961.

It should be added that on 5th October, 1961, the 4-2 system for the Chinese secondary stream was amicably resolved with the Singapore Chinese Schools Committee-Teacher Association, which is regarded as the highest educational body on Chinese education in Singapore. This agreement was announced in a joint statement and published in the local newspapers the following day.

Dr Sheng Nam Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am greatly surprised to hear the Minister say here today that there is no such thing as a 4-year system in Chinese education and that the system, in actual fact, is the 4-2 system. Perhaps the Minister would like to look up his own speech made in this House in support of the motion moved by the Prime Minister last year when he mentioned that, as from the beginning of this year, the Chinese school system would be changed into a 4-year secondary system. I would like him to refresh his own memory. Or if his memory is that bad, he might look up the Hansard.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members must realise that this is Question Time. I have allowed the Member to carry on up till now. He can only ask supplementary questions and not enter into a debate. What is the question?

Dr Sheng Nam Chin: I beg your pardon, Mr Speaker, Sir. The question is whether there is or there is not such a thing as the 4-year system which the Minister mentioned, and whether he would confirm that when he said so last year in this House, it was a policy statement? Which one are we to believe? The previous one or this one?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, perhaps the Member for Nee Soon will quote the relevant passage in Hansard that he is talking about. Another thing is that if he will only refer to the joint statement issued by the Committee/ Teachers' Association and myself on 5th October, 1961, he will find that it was stated very clearly there that the Government accepted 6 years of secondary education, 4 years lower, and 2 years upper secondary. The 2 years is not something very high up in the clouds. The 2 years is secondary education. So unless his mathematics is wrong, perhaps the public would like to know how he finds that four and two is still four?

Dr Sheng Nam Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I crave the indulgence of this House for me to go to the Library and produce the relevant Hansard?

Mr Speaker: Order. That illustrates my point. Things like that cannot be done during Question Time. This point apparently will excite a great deal of debate and I would suggest that the hon. Member for Nee Soon files a motion on the matter.