PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVING EXAMINATION IN 1967 (Secondary school places and postings)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Education whether all students who pass the Primary School Leaving Examination this year will be given places in secondary schools; whether he is aware of the many cases in previous years where students were posted to secondary schools far away from their homes; and what steps he will take to prevent a similar situation this year.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker. Sir, it is expected that, subject to adequate provision in the 1968 Budget for education, every Primary VI pupil in Singapore who is successful in the Primary School Leaving Examination this year will be given a place in a secondary academic, technical or vocational school. However, it is obviously not possible to meet the wishes of every parent in regard to the choice of a particular school. No system of allocation can please everyone.

The present system of allocation for the Chinese and English streams, which has been in operation since 1965, is processed by computers. It is based on the choice exercised by the parents and the results of the Primary School Leaving Examination. Under this system the vast majority of successful candidates are posted to schools of their own choice. For example, in 1966, out of a total of 32,602 successful candidates, 21,074 were posted to schools according to their first choice, and 6,036 were posted according to their second choice. Only 5,492 or 16.8 per cent were posted to schools other than their choice, because all vacancies in the schools of their choice were taken up by other candidates with better results in the Primary School Leaving Examination. Among the 5,492 pupils who failed to secure a place under their first as well as second choice, about 5,200 applied for transfers. Of these, 4,600 were approved and only 600 could not be approved, because all vacancies in schools near their homes had already been taken up by other pupils with better examination results.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, just now the Minister has said that, subject to adequate provision in the 1968 Budget, it appears that all students who passed the Primary School Leaving Examination would be given places. Could the Minister be more explicit in explaining the phrase "subject to adequate provision in the 1968 Budget"?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Punggol knows exactly what I mean. There is no need to explain in further detail.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Can the Minister say whether it is correct that, should there be inadequate provision in the 1968 Budget, all students may not be given places in the secondary schools?

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Correct.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: The Minister for Finance has already answered for me.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Mr Speaker, Sir, I completely agree with the Minister for Education that the Government cannot, of course, accede to the request of the parents to send their children to the schools of their choice. But at the end of the year of the school term, there is a great mess in the postings of students from one school to another school. I can quote an example. For instance, if a student is staying in Jurong, he is posted to St. Anthony's School, whereas, on the other hand, a student staying somewhere in Bras Basah Road is posted to Jurong School.

Mr Speaker: Mr Ho, can we have your supplementary question, please?

Mr Ho See Beng: What I am complaining about is the posting system. Although the Ministry of Education -

Mr Speaker: If you want to make a complaint, Mr Ho, there are other procedural methods available to you. But if you have a supplementary question, please frame it quickly.

Mr Ho See Beng: Will the Minister give an assurance to the House that after having posted the students to a school very far away from their homes and that if the parents are able to find vacancies in another school which is very close to their homes, the Ministry of Education will rectify the wrong postings? This is the question I am asking the Minister.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, that is precisely what my Ministry has been doing for the past few years. For instance, early this year 5,200 students applied for transfer, and of this number, 4,600 were approved. That, I am sure, answers the point of the Member.

Mr S. Rajoo (Farrer Park): According to the Minister, it seems that even if adequate provision is made in 1968, there is a possibility of a certain number of children being posted to schools very far away from their homes. Under such circumstances, will the Minister give an assurance that where the poor parents cannot send their children to distant schools, the Ministry will consider giving a transport bursary to the children?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the affected pupils can always apply for a transport bursary, and if they merit such an award, it will be given.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not satisfied with the Minister's answer to my question asking him to clarify the very phrase he used in his reply just now. Is it or is it not the policy of the Government to provide secondary education to all those students who have passed the P.S.L.E.? The next question is this. Is the Minister satisfied with the system of posting successful students in the P.S.L.E. and, if not, will he take steps to change the system since, over a period of two years, more than 5,000, as he has just mentioned, have been posted elsewhere? Thirdly, -

Mr Speaker: Mr Ng, I think we had better have answers to your first two questions before we come to the third question. Mr Ong?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, taking the second question first. I am quite satisfied with the present system. But if the Member for Punggol can suggest a better system, I am prepared to consider it.

As for the first question, while it is the policy of the Government in the past few years to provide a place for every student who has passed the P.S.L.E., the position cannot be the same for all time. Much depends on the economy of the country and the state of its finances. I am sure if the finances of the State permit, we will provide places for all those who can pass the P.S.L.E. Otherwise, that is that.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: As regards my suggestion to rectify the system -

Mr Speaker: Mr Ng, I am afraid i will not let you go into that. I called you for your third supplementary.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Yes, Sir. My third question is this. Just now the Minister has mentioned that out of 5,000-plus students, 4,000 odd were given places as a result of applications for transfer, is the Minister aware that quite a long period of study days has been lost as a result of these students applying for transfers to schools nearer to their homes?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, a certain amount of study time might have been lost in the process of applying for a transfer, but that cannot be helped. I do not think the time lost is in any way excessive.