1962 CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE AND GOVERNMENT SENIOR MIDDLE III EXAMINATIONS (Statistics)

Dr Thio Chan Bee asked the Minister for Education to state (a) the total number of candidates who took the Cambridge School Certificate Examination in Singapore in 1962, the total number of passes and the total number of failures; (b) the total number of candidates who took the Government Senior Middle Three Examination in 1962, the total number of passes and the total number of failures; and (c) how many of them could be taken into pre-university classes.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Sir, a total of 8,754 candidates sat for the 1962 Joint Examination of the Cambridge School Certificate and General Certificate of Education in Singapore. Of these 5,028 or 57 per cent passed, thus obtaining one or more certificates. The remaining 3,726 failed to obtain any certificate.

As it is likely, Sir, that the Member for Tanglin is interested in the performance of school candidates from Government and Government-Aided Schools, the relevant figures are as follows:- Number who sat 6,764 Number who passed 4,179 or 62 per Cent (thus obtaining one or more certificates) Number who failed to obtain any certificate 2,585

To the second part of the question: the total number of candidates who sat for the last Government Senior Middle III Examination held in 1962 was 2,384. Of these, 898 passed and the failures were 1,486. In respect of school candidates from Government-Aided Schools only, there were 508 candidates, and of these 261 or 51 per cent passed.

It should be stated, however, that all the candidates, without exception, were attempting this Examination for at least a second time.

In reply to the third part of the question: Up to 31st March, 1963, 1,114 have been admitted to pre-University I Classes in the English stream. There are no pre-University Classes in the Chinese stream but Upper Secondary Classes. Admission to Upper Secondary I Classes in the Chinese medium is at present limited to those who have passed either the internal School Secondary Four or the Government Secondary Four Examination.

Dr Thio Chan Bee (Tanglin): Will the Minister please state whether all those who have passed their Senior Middle III Examination and who ordinarily would be eligible for the Upper Secondary Classes or the equivalent of the pre-University First Year are able to find places?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: I believe every candidate who wants to be admitted to the Upper Secondary I Classes in the Chinese stream has been found admission, provided he has passed the Government Secondary Four Examination or the School Secondary Four Examination; but for the time being we are not worried. Those who have already completed six years of secondary education under the old 3 : 3 system will join Upper Secondary Classes, because those who have passed the Government Senior Middle III Examination can either get admission to Nanyang University or the University of Singapore pre-University Classes.

Dr Thio Chan Bee: Mr Speaker, Sir, regarding the Cambridge Senior School Certificate failures, we are told that Grade II passes are not allowed to repeat, whereas Grade III passes are allowed to take a repeat examination in order to enable them to get pre-University qualification to get admission to a University. Would the Minister consider that a fair arrangement, in view of the fact that the Grade II passes are penalised whereas the Grade III passes are given another chance?

Mr Speaker: Surely that is asking for an opinion. I do not know whether the Minister would like to answer that? But it is out of order as it is asking for an opinion.