CERTIFICATES OF SUITABILITY (Particulars, and review of policy)

Mr Low Yong Nguan asked the Minister for Education (a) what are the figures, as, at the latest convenient date, of (i) the number of applications for Certificates of Suitability for admission to the various institutions of higher learning in the Republic; (ii) the number rejected and the reasons therefor; and (iii) the number of Certificates granted and subsequently withdrawn; and (b) whether he will carry out a complete review of the policy on the matter having regard to the students' inherent right to higher education.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, up to 24th July, 1970, a total of 13,311 applications for Certificates of Suitability had been received. Breakdown figures by institutions of higher learning are not kept, as most applicants apply for admission to more than one institution in a single application. Only seven cases out of a total of 13,311 applications, or 0.053 per cent, were rejected on security grounds. The number of certificates granted and subsequently withdrawn is nil.

The requirement of the Certificate of Suitability under the provisions of the Internal Security Act is to ensure that institutions of higher learning are not turned into a hotbed of subversive political activities which are not conducive to the pursuit of knowledge. As explained by the Minister of Defence in a press statement issued in March 1967, the Government adopted this requirement with two objectives in mind. The first was to prevent a high concentration of Communist-indoctrinated students collecting together in a tertiary institution with the intention of not only controlling the students' activities, but also intimidating the teaching staff and in the end taking over the running of the institution. The second purpose was to deter students from getting mixed up in Communist United Front activities.

I would, however, like to make an observation on the so-called "students' inherent right to higher education". The primary consideration for admission to a higher institution of learning is the possession of academic standards acceptable to the institution concerned. This implies that not all students who seek admission can be admitted even though they may have the minimum qualifications. Furthermore, the number of students that can be admitted to an institution of higher learning depends on a number of factors, such as accommodation, staffing and finance, which in turn depend on the economy of the country and its manpower requirements. There can, therefore, be no inherent right to higher education for anybody.

Nevertheless, the "students' inherent right to higher education" is a stirring slogan which is often used by politicians and political parties in their struggle for political power. However, once power is seized, no party ever honours it, whether it be in a western democracy or a Communist state, for the simple reason that it is only an empty, albeit catching, slogan.

In a recent sitting of Parliament, the Member for Crawford made a pertinent point that the days of slogan shouting were over. I am afraid the so-called "students' inherent right to higher education" is precisely the type of empty and meaningless slogan shouting so deplored by the Member for Crawford.

Mr Low Yong Nguan: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I ask my supplementary questions, I would like to point out that I do not shout empty slogans. I believe in the students' right to higher education, and I believe in what I am saying.

I would like the Minister to clarify a few questions. Firstly, in view of so much talk about the political stability that is existing in our country, are the grounds enunciated by the Minister and on which we base the whole question of Certificates of Suitability still valid? Secondly, we have just been informed by the Minister that seven applications were rejected. Although the Minister has said that breakdown figures by institutions are not kept, may I know whether the seven rejected cases were citizens or non-citizens, and can the Minister say for which institution of higher learning these cases applied? Thirdly, the Minister has made mention of the minimum qualifications for entry into an institution of higher learning. With such licensing of right to enter an institution, I wonder whether it is also one of the qualifications to be found suitable by the licensing authority, apart from the required academic qualifications?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have the facts regarding the citizenship status of the seven cases which were rejected on security grounds. But I can supply the information to the Member for Crawford in due course.

The grounds for the introduction of the Certificates of Suitability are still valid in spite of the political stability of our state. Maybe the relatively peaceful conditions that are prevailing in our universities is, in large measure, due to the existence of the Certificate of Suitability requirement.