CHINESE SECONDARY IV STUDENTS ADMITTED TO OR REFUSED ADMISSION TO UPPER SECONDARY I CLASSES (Statistics)

Mr Ong Chang Sam asked the Minister for Education how many students were in the Chinese Secondary Four classes as at 31St December, 1961, in all schools; how many have been admitted to Upper Secondary I classes in 1962; and how many have been refused admission and the reasons for non-admission.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, there were 2,932 students in Chinese Secondary IV classes as at 31st December, 1961, and as the admission to Upper Secondary I classes in the Chinese medium is by way of the School Secondary IV Examination it is necessary to state, first of all, that the number who have passed the 1961 School Secondary IV Examination was 2,348. Of these, 2,080 students (or 88 per cent) were admitted to Upper Secondary I classes as at 13th January, 1962. No one who has passed the School Secondary IV Examination has been refused admission, although a small number - 62 - were unable to get places in schools of their own choice but have been found places in other schools by the Ministry of Education. However, Mr Speaker, Sir, it has been brought to my notice only this morning that eight students who passed the Adult Education Board's internal Secondary IV examination, after having been accepted for registration by the Chung Cheng High School for Upper Secondary I classes, were asked to leave on 20th instant, on the grounds that they were not from regular schools, although they had already made their schools uniforms, bought books, and paid fees for the first term. It is regretted that the Principal of Chung Cheng High School should have asked these students to leave without first consulting with the Ministry. In these circumstances, I wish to state that the eight students concerned will be given places in Upper Secondary I classes that are being conducted by the Adult Education Board at the River Valley Government Secondary School.