PRIMARY SIX REPEAT CLASSES IN SEMBAWANG

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Education whether the Government has any plans to start Primary Six Repeat Classes in schools in the Sembawang Constituency for students who fail in the Primary School Leaving Examination in the English and Chinese streams.

The Minister of State for Education (Inche A. Rahim Ishak) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, all Primary Six Repeat pupils in the Chinese stream have been found places in their own schools in the Sembawang area. In the English stream, Primary Six Repeat pupils who could not find places in their own schools have since been admitted to other schools.

The Government plans to build extensions to Nee Soon School and the Sembawang Hills Estate School to provide 12 additional classrooms. When completed, some of these classrooms will be used for Primary Six Repeat Classes.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): A supplementary question, Sir.

I would like to ask the Minister concerned about the Primary Six students in the Sembawang Constituency. If they do not have any -

Mr Speaker: Order. I am sorry. Will the Member please resume his seat? I am not getting the translation through.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): I would like to ask the Minister concerned this: when the Primary Six students have no more places in their schools, will the Principals of these schools report to the Ministry of Education so that the Minister can take steps to allocate places for these pupils in other schools?

Inche Rahim Ishak: Mr Speaker, Sir, because I was not able to hear the translation through my earphone, I had a running translation of the question from the Member seated next to me.

I have earlier stated that all Primary Six Repeat pupils in the Chinese stream have been found places. So that question does not arise.

Mr Speaker: Perhaps if Inche Rahim resumes his seat, I will ask the Member to repeat his supplementary question again, so that we will get the full text of his question. Will the Member mind repeating his supplementary question again?

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, just now I was asking the Minister concerned if there are any Primary Six students who do not have any accommodation in their schools, will the Ministry of Education, on a report from the Principals concerned, allot places for them in order to allow them to continue for one more year?

Inche Rahim Ishak: I have only to repeat that all places have been found for them. But if the Member is referring to next year, then, of course, we will cross the river as we reach it.