SCHOOL CHILDREN (Production of documents at beginning of school year)

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap asked the Minister for Education why school children who have been attending a school for a few years are required to produce documents such as birth certificates, parents' identity cards and citizenship certificates at the beginning of each subsequent school year.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am asked by my Minister to reply. This Ministry has always been aware that parents are greatly inconvenienced and are concerned whenever their children are required to produce important documents for verification by schools. There is no ruling that such documents have to be produced annually for inspection. On the contrary, schools have been repeatedly advised by circular to refrain from asking for documents, except in the case of new admissions or where the pupil's eligibility for remission of school fees is in doubt. Even then, only the minimum number of documents will be called for and the reason for doing so is explained to the parents concerned.

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap (Geylang Serai): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister consider changing this system and, instead, issue forms to the parents of the students so that the required particulars can be filled in by them? This will ensure that the documents are not lost.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Even if forms are distributed to parents for entry, they have to be verified by the schools concerned. Therefore, the documents have to be required by the school principals.