COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INTO EFFECTS OF SIX-DAY WEEK IN SCHOOLS

Dr Thio Chan Bee asked the Minister for Education if he will appoint an independent Committee of Inquiry to investigate into the effects, both direct and indirect, of the compulsory full six-day week in Singapore's primary schools, especially in regard to the welfare of these school children, and to make recommendations for its continuance or discontinuance with effect from January, 1962.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: The Ministry of Education is at present in the midst of discussions with the Malay Teachers' Union, the Chinese Middle School Teachers' Association, and the Singapore Teachers' Union for a revised version of the six-day week for 1962. Arising out of these discussions, the question whether or not to appoint a Committee of Inquiry or a Commission of Inquiry will be decided.

Mr David Marshall: This matter does not affect teachers only. Would the Minister take cognizance of the widespread unhappiness indicated on the part of parents on behalf of their children?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Do I take it, Mr Speaker, that the Member for Anson speaks on behalf of parents in Singapore?

Mr Speaker: He will be a parent!

Mr David Marshall: Fortunately, Sir, we do not always have to have the qualifications of those whose brief we seek to press. May I have a reply, Sir? I know many parents are very unhappy, and it is only fair that they should receive some assurance which would assuage their anxiety - that their representations would be given earnest and honest considerations.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: I do feel that in a matter like this, discussions which have taken place between the Ministry and representatives of Teachers' unions way back to April 1961 would be a more effective machinery, and if necessary even refer the matter to the Educational Advisory Council. So I do think that it is quite possible to say that some parents are unhappy, just as some teachers are unhappy about the six-day week. But it would be quite a sweeping statement to say that many parents are unhappy.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng rose -

Mr David Marshall: I hope she is a parent!

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I wonder whether the Minister would give his consideration to this: that as there are Parent-Teacher Associations existing, they provide a good channel through which the Minister could find out the feelings of parents. And probably the Parent-Teacher Associations could elect a representative to make representations to this Committee that the Minister is going to appoint, and therefore he would, in effect, be having parents' opinions too.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: As an elected Assemblyman and a Minister, I receive lots of letter from various sources and, of course, I shall always be available to receive memoranda, be they from some of the Parent-Teacher Associations in Singapore. But there are so few Parent-Teacher Associations in schools. They are found in a few English schools. But if they care to get down to submitting a memorandum putting forward their views, I shall be very pleased to read it and absorb anything worthwhile for consideration.

Mr Bani: Sir, the Minister looks very .tired and I do not want to tax him any more than is necessary. But I wonder whether he is in a position to confirm that it is, in fact, the Government's intention to make the six-day week into something like a 5�-day week.

Mr Speaker: It may be a top secret!

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I wish to say that I am far from being tired because I do not have nocturnal meetings like the Member for Thomson.

I have already indicated that whether or not we shall form a Committee of inquiry or a Commission of Inquiry as proposed by the Member for Tanglin is a matter which we will take up after discussion with teachers' unions. It will be a revised version of the six-day week in that teaching load of teachers would be somewhat reduced. Therefore, it means an increase in the number of teachers per school, by improving the staffing quota, and it will, of course, mean an increase in the Budget.