GOVERNMENT CHINESE SECONDARY IV EXAMINATION (Statement by the Minister for Education)

2.33 p.m.

The Minister for Education (Mr Yong Nyuk Lin) rose -

Mr Speaker: Mr Yong, a ministerial statement?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, today is the second last day of the Government Secondary IV Examination to be held in the Chinese medium. There are altogether three papers for today; the first paper being Additional Mathematics, in which 83 per cent of the candidates sat for the examination, and at the moment, the second paper, which is an optional paper in Geography, where 1,449 candidates out of a possible 2,521 candidates, that is, 58 per cent, are at present taking this paper.

I should like to inform Members of this House that substitute papers will be prepared for those who have failed to attend the examinations for the past few days. They will be from Monday, 4th December, to Friday, 8th December, at three emergency centres; two next to the Ministry of Education namely Tanglin Boys' and Tanglin Girls' Schools and at the Teachers' Training College. I regret, however, having to draw the attention of Members to this afternoon's Press reports of further incidents this morning between picketers, students and parents in respect of those who wish to take the examinations in and out of examination halls.

At noon today, representatives from the parents of students who are taking the examinations went to see my Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Lee Khoon Choy, and asked for police protection. I have just been informed of this, and my Parliamentary Secretary would like, Mr Speaker, Sir, to seek your permission and that of the House to move a motion under Standing Order 32.