PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION'S KINDERGARTEN CLASSES (Particulars)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Defence (a) what has been the total enrolment for 1968 in the kindergarten classes run by the People's Association; (b) what are the media of instruction: and (c) whether he is satisfied with the progress made.

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, when the People's Association first organised kindergarten classes in community cen tres in January 1964, there were only eight centres providing this service. However, by the end of 1968, 138 community centres were conducting kindergarten classes and 390 such classes were organised with a total enrolment of 11,190 children. Of the 390 classes, 15 of them with a student population of 445 are taught in Malay. 35 with a student population of 1.125 in English and the rest in Mandarin, i.e.. 339 classes with 9,620 children.

Notwithstanding the above classification, Mr Speaker, Sir, a second language is also taught in all classes once a week.

Satisfactory progress has been made by the People's Association in the or~anisation of kindergarten classes as a service to the community. Furthermore, the standard of instruction provided in these classes is comparable to that of other kindergarten classes in the Republic.