PRIMARY I ENROLMENT IN CHINESE SCHOOLS IN JULY 1971 (Particulars)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Education (a) how many children have been enrolled in Primary I classes in Chinese schools in July 1971, and in how many schools; and (b) whether he is considering extending the new system of enrolment to schools in the other language streams.

The Minister for Education (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, altogether 1,190 children have been enrolled in Primary I classes in July 1971, in 23 Government and Government-Aided Chinese primary and full schools.

As the system of having two Primary I intakes a year is a pilot project, evaluation will have to be made in due course in order to determine the desirability of extending this system to other language streams, bearing in mind the limitation of resources with regard to physical facilities and teaching staff.