TRANSPORT DIFFICULTY FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN ON PULAU BRANI AND PULAU BLAKANG MATI

Inche Ahmad Jabri Bin Mohammad Akib asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that children living on Pulau Brani and Pulau Blakang Mati and schooling in Singapore are having transport difficulty in going to and from Singapore; whether he has received petitions from the parents of those school-children; and whether he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr Lee Khoon Choy (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked to reply. The Minister is aware of the transport difficulties encountered by children living on islands who have to attend schools in Singapore. In the case of Pulau Brani and Pulau Blakang Mati, there are in existence 3 primary schools which cater for nearly 750 pupils. The problems of daily transport across the seas affect about 120 pupils only.

On 21st February, 1963, a petition was received purporting to have been signed by 72 residents of Kampong Pulau Blakang Mati.

The Ministry has endeavoured to solve the problem by seeking the co-operation of the War Department by adjusting the time-tables of their ferry services. Likewise, the assistance of the Master Attendant's Department and even that of the Straits Trading Company were sought. However, the commitments of these bodies have limited their ability to provide all the transport required for pupils and at times convenient for pupils. Therefore, the Ministry can Only do its best to alleviate the situation by resorting to the following measures:-

(a) Increasing the awards for Island bursaries valued at $600 per annum from 14 in 1961 to 21 in 1962.

(b) Initiating a new scheme of transport bursaries for Island pupils attending secondary schools in Singapore valued at $360 per annum. Circulars to this effect were issued to principals on 15th March, 1963, and applications are being processed. The vote approved by Treasury for 1963 is $49,800.

(c) To build more rural type schools on islands if and when demands and availability of site justify such building. As in the case of Pulau Blakang Mati, which will be answered separately as a result of another question raised hereafter.

Mr David Marshall: A supplementary, Sir. Can we have any indication of the number of these transport bursaries that it is anticipated will be awarded?

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is difficult to predict the number of applications.

Mr David Marshall: For how many people?

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: It depends on the number of applications.

Inche Ahmad Jabri Bin Mohammad Akib (Southern Islands): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, when were the circulars concerning the transport bursaries for the pupils of these islands issued?

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Member mean the money which has just been approved?

Inche Ahmad Jabri: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think it would be more convenient for me to put my question to the Parliamentary Secretary in English: when were the circulars concerning bursaries for transport issued by the Ministry of Education to the schools in the Southern Islands?

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thought I mentioned that the circulars were issued on 15th March, 1963.