SECOND LANGUAGE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Mr S. Rajoo asked the Minister for Education, in the implementation of the policy of compulsory study of a second language in all secondary schools as from the beginning of 1966, whether (a) teaching facilities for second languages are provided in all Government and Government-aided secondary schools (including Mission schools), and language teachers are available for all the four languages in all the schools, irrespective of the number of students wishing to take a particular language; and (b) all Government-aided secondary schools (including Mission schools) have been made to implement the policy and commence Tamil language classes, where formerly there were none.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, facilities for teaching any of the four official languages as a second language are provided in all Government and Government-aided schools, including Mission schools. Where second language teachers cannot be fully deployed in one school, they teach in a group of schools. Where the number of pupils choosing a second language is very small, classes are conducted centrally both in the afternoon for morning school pupils and in the morning for afternoon school pupils. It is stressed that, irrespective of the number of students wishing to take a particular second language, adequate provision has been made. All schools have been instructed to implement the policy of a compulsory second language in Secondary I from 1966 and provision has been made for Tamil. This year there are 9 morning and 8 afternoon secondary Tamil class centres, with 17 full-time teachers to teach about 2,500 Tamil pupils. There is also one English secondary school with two part-time Tamil language teachers, one for the morning and one for the afternoon, and two other schools have Tamil language teachers teaching the language during school hours.

Mr Rajoo (Farrer Park): A supplementary question, Sir. I understand that Tamil classes are centrally run at various places, due to the small number of children taking Tamil as a second language. But my point in bringing up this question here is that each and every school, whether it is a Government or a Government-aided school or a mission school, should be self-sufficient with language teachers in all streams of language, and not depend on any special centres to be provided by Government. I feel that the special centres -

Mr Speaker: Could the Member frame the supplementary question rather than make a criticism of what the Minister has said?

Mr Rajoo: My supplementary question is this. In spite of the centres run by the Government for various languages, will the Minister give an assurance that all schools - whether they are Government or Government-aided or Mission schools - will be made self-sufficient with language teachers to teach the respective language in the school itself, irrespective of the number of children taking a second language?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, wherever there is a sufficient number of pupils taking a second language, a full-time second language teacher will be provided. But if the number of students taking a second language in a particular school is small, for instance, two pupils, surely the Member for Farrer Park does not expect the Government to provide a full-time second language teacher for just two pupils?

Mr Rajoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, for in, stance, in an English school where there are Chinese, Malay and Tamil children -

Mr Speaker: Mr Rajoo, I am afraid I must pull you up again. Could you frame the supplementary question?

Mr Rajoo: Yes. The supplementary question is this. In schools where second language classes are run, during the language period certain children will attend either the Chinese or Malay language classes, whereas the Tamil children in these schools will be left without any teacher, because although classrooms are available, there is no teacher to teach Tamil. That is what I understand. Will the Minister look into the matter and investigate where such a state of affairs exists, so that Tamil-language teachers will be provided and the Tamil children do not waste their time idling during this language period?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Yes, Mr Speaker, I will certainly investigate if specific instances can be pointed out to me.

Mr Speaker: In view of the number of questions we have today - it is already five to 3 p.m. - I hope Members will restrict their supplementary questions so that those who have questions low down in the list will have their questions answered orally. Mr Rodrigues.