COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO EDUCATION POLICY (Statement by the Minister for Education)

2.36 p.m.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I understand from the Leader of the House that with the agreement of Opposition Members, the House at the end of the debate on the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's Speech will adjourn to a further sitting next month, may I take this opportunity to say that the Government is prepared to appoint a Commission of Inquiry in accordance with the spirit of the motion tabled by the Member for Anson and the Member for Joo Chiat which reads as follows

'That this Assembly calls upon the Government to recommend the appointment of a Commission to enquire into the Government's Education Policy, its content and administration in all fields other than vocational and technical education, and to make recommendations.'.

However, on the 19th of December, the Member of Anson wrote further to me suggesting an amendment to the motion by adding the following words:

'including the six-day week and political activities and machinations in primary and secondary schools, the extent thereof and the persons and organisations responsible therefor.'.

I wish to state, Sir, that Government is prepared to extend the scope of the terms of reference of the proposed Commission of Inquiry to include the six-day week and to investigate into political activities and machinations in schools. But as Government has already agreed to appoint a Commission of Inquiry into the recent examination boycott as proposed by the Member for Anson, the political machinations behind the boycott would be dealt with under this Commission. In view of Government's intention to appoint a Commission of Inquiry along the general lines proposed by the Member for Anson, the exact terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry will, however, be announced later.

My former statement to the Member for Farrer Park during the recent debate on the 1962 Estimates, indicating the early announcement of a revised version of the six-day week for primary schools in 1962, will therefore have to be put in to cold storage and not implemented until the Commission of Inquiry to be set up has completed its findings.

Mr David Marshall (Anson): If it please you, Mr Speaker, Sir, may I say that I am indebted to the Minister for taking this question out of the political field? I would like to enquire, Sir, whether it would not be appropriate to have just one Commission instead of two, as I gather he has in mind, and the one Commission can then make an interim report on the political activities and machinations including the troubles in the Chinese middle schools.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is most desirable that the two issues be kept separate and I think it is essential to go deeper into the examination boycott.

Mr David Marshall: If it please you, Mr Speaker, Sir, I accept that and I would enquire at this stage whether it would be appropriate to withdraw item 4 from the Order Paper.

Mr Speaker: There is provision in the Standing Order, which I think the Clerk will indicate to the hon. Member, as to how that should be done.