PLAYING FIELDS FOR AIDED SCHOOLS IN CITY AREA

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Education, as certain aided schools in the City Area have no playing-fields, if the Government will consider allowing those schools the use of any available State land in the vicinity of the schools as playing-fields.

The Minister of State for Education (Inche A. Rahim Ishak) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the problem ol providing adequate playing facilities in the city area for schools is not confined only to aided schools, but many Government schools in the city area share this handicap. There is hardly any State land in the city available for use as playing-fields for schools, and we have only been able to secure the use of the land at Shenton Way cm a temporary basis for seven Government and Government-aided schools since 1959. Unfortunately, the area available has been reduced; first, by the building of the N.T.U.C. Conference Hall and second, by the excision of another portion for barter trade.

I understand that work is now being undertaken to build a car park on the remaining part of the field, and that an alternative site will therefore have to be secured. This is being attended to. The Ministry of Education has no jurisdiction over the use of State land not earmarked for educational development, and I hope that in the redevelopment of the urban areas more playing-fields will be provided to serve the needs of the schools and the public.

Mr P. Govindaswamy (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, is it proper to have a playing ground utilised as a car park?

Mr Speaker: Inche Rahim, that, I think, was more a comment than a question. Mr Ho.