NGEE ANN COLLEGE AND NANYANG UNIVERSITY (Government financial aid)

"Mr Chia Thye Poh: To ask the Minister for Education (a) whether the Government has given any financial aid to Ngee Ann College, and how much; and (b) what is the amount of money actually spent in aid to the Nanyang University since the Government had taken steps to reorganise it."

Pursuant to Standing Order No. 20 (2), the Minister for Education supplied the following answer:-

8. "(a) No, the Government has not given any financial aid to Ngee Ann College yet.

(b) When the reorganisation of the Nanyang University commenced in July 1964, the University was virtually bankrupt owing to financial mismanagement by the former University administration. In particular, the recurrent expenditure of the University was repeatedly diverted by the former Vice-Chancellor as payment for the construction of a cinema-like auditorium costing more than $1 million. As a result, Government had to step in and make an immediate grant of $200,000 to pay the salaries of both the academic and non-academic staff in November 1964. A further advance of $660,000 had to be made soon after to meet the urgent students commitments of the university, particularly in respect of payments of salaries and wages to the staff. Since then, the Government has made another grant of $1 million to tide over the financial difficulties till the end of 1965. In all, since the reorganisation began in July 1964, the Government has made a total advance of $1.86 million towards meeting the recurrent expenditure of the University. This is in addition to the $1 million for the library, now under construction, which will be fully expended in July 1966, when work on the library is scheduled to be completed, and another $1 million for scientific equipment and library books out of which a sum of $30,000 will be spent before the end of 1965 for the equipment of a language laboratory for teaching languages with a modern approach. On 12th September, 1965, the University authorities published the Report submitted by the Nanyang University Curriculum Review Committee. In the light of the recommended curriculum, it is now expected that the purchase of scientific equipment and library books will be actively pursued. To summarise:- Total amount of aid provided Total amount of aid paid for the University to the University since reorganisation since reorganisation (1)Library $1 million Will be fully expended by July, 1966. (2)Scientific $1 million $30,000 by Equipment end of 1965. and Library Books (3)Grant and $1.86 million $1.86 million Advances ------------- $3.86 million " -------------

The following Question for Oral Answer stood on the Order Paper of 17th December, 1965:-