SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION (Number to be offered to teachers and University students in 1969)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Education, in view of the Government's policy of encouraging technical education, how many scholar ships in this field will be offered in 1969 to (a) University students, and (b) teachers.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng (for the Minister for Education): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not possible at this juncture to state how many awards in the field of technical education will be offered in 1969 to university students and teachers as the 1969 Budget proposals have yet to be passed by Parliament.

Awards made this year are generally renewed next year subject to satisfactory progress and conduct, while fresh awards would largely depend on the availability of suitable applicants to meet the needs of industry and institutions in both the public and private sectors.

A greater allocation of the voted provisions will most assuredly be made to those who take courses of study that will enable them to contribute a useful role to society on graduation.

The following information will, however, indicate the encouragement given in the field of technical education.

(a) University students

Out of a total of 87 new awards which included scholarships, bursaries and study loans made this year for the 1968/69 session, 84 awards were for students in the Singapore Polytechnic and three for students in Ngee Ann College. Of the awards for students in the Singapore Polytechnic, four awards were for professional courses, 29 awards were for degree courses and 51 were for technician courses. The three awards for students in Ngee Ann College were for Mechanical Engineering. In addition to these awards, there were 60 new awards for overseas training under various technical assistance schemes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and France.

A total number of 131 scholarships and bursaries were renewed for students in the Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann College this year. Of this total number of renewals, 128 were for students in the Singapore Polytechnic and three for students in Ngee Ann College.

(b) Teachers

As for scholarships to teachers in technical education, the Government has already approved a total of 28 awards for training overseas in 1969 under various schemes such as the Colombo Plan, the Commonwealth Teacher Training Bursary and the United Nations Development Programme. Such training covers a wide range of technical subjects in fields like machine shop and fitting, motor vehicles, welding and sheet metal, electrical installation and maintenance, shipbuilding and drafting, building, woodworking, trade skill testing and trade standard, wood carving, modelling and sculpture, in Australia, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, France and Italy.

Fifty-six bursaries were awarded this year to technical student teachers at the Teachers' Training College. For next year provision has been requested for 150 fresh awards for full-time technical teacher training.