AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RURAL AREAS

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Education if he will consider introducing agricultural science as a subject in secondary schools in rural areas.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, mixed farming will be introduced in 1968 as an elective subject in the secondary vocational classes in the rural areas. Towards this end, 17 trainees are at present undergoing a two-year full-time content training in mixed farming at the Sembawang Farm School. After the completion of the training at the school in May 1967, they will undergo a further one year of part-time professional training at the Teachers' Training College. The possibility of introducing Rural Science in other secondary classes in the rural areas is under consideration.