SCHOOL TREE-PLANTING AND GARDENING COMPETITION (Particulars of expenditure)

Mr Tay Boon Too asked the Minister for Education (a) how much was spent by each school for the recent tree-planting and gardening competition; (b) from what source was the expenditure met; and (c) what percentage per school of the expenditure came from the school's miscellaneous fund.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng (for the Minister for Education): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the three questions can be conveniently answered together. For the Tree-Planting Campaign and Competition, the Ministry of Education authorised principals of schools the use of the Sports Fund, Science Fund and Miscellaneous Fund. Restrictions, how ever, were placed on the use of such funds. Utilisation of the Sports Fund was restricted to purchase of top soil, fertilisers and sludge and for the transportation of sludge; utilisation of the Science Fund was restricted to purchase of tree saplings and rooted or unrooted cuttings for potted plants which could not be obtained free of charge from the Botanic Gardens and the Woodleigh Nursery; and the utilisation of the Miscellaneous Fund was limited to a maximum of $200 for the purchase of materials such as tree-guards, pots and bricks which could not be obtained from the Central Supplies Office.

The amount spent by schools ranged from approximately $50 to $200. This variation in the total expenditure and also the variation of expenditure from the Miscellaneous Fund were due to differences between schools in available resources and facilities and in the sizes 'of school grounds.

In the campaign and competition some schools were fortunate enough to obtain voluntary contributions of potted plants, saplings and bricks from teachers, parents, old boys and well-wishers, through the assistance of School Advisory Committees, Parent / Teacher Associations and Old Boys' Associations.

Mr Tay Boon Too (Paya Lebar): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary say what action will be taken against a school which used money in excess of the $200?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: (In Mandarin): Sir, if there is such a case, we shall investigate it first and ascertain the circumstances in which the excess money came to be used. If it should transpire that as a result of investigation further action is necessary the case will be looked into further.