MALAY PRE-UNIVERSITY 1 CLASSES IN 1972 (Particulars)

8. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi asked the Minister for Education the number of Malay Pre-University I classes in 1972 and the schools in which they are conducted.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of Pre-University I classes for Malay-medium students in 1972 and the schools in which these classes are conducted are as follows: School No, of Total Enrolment classes Sang Nila Utama 3 131 students National 1 39 students Junior College - --- Total 4 170 students = ===

Another class will be started in Sang Nila Utama if there are enough late applicants with the requisite qualifications.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister of State tell the House the number of students admitted into the Pre-University classes (Malay stream) for 1970, 1971 and 1972?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, there were 70 students in 1970 and 100 in 1971, increasing to 170 for this year, 1972.

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap Al-Haj (Geylang Serai): (In Malay): Sir, can the Minister of State explain this position? In past years, the Malay stream students who obtained an aggregate of 20 and above were admitted to the PreXUniversity classes, and that this privilege is not extended to them this year.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, the criterion for entry into the PreXUniversity classes remains essentially the same.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister of State consider the possibility of teaching Mathematics and Economics in English in the Malay Pre-University classes?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, we have always been encouraging the teaching of such subjects in English. In fact, when a survey was conducted recently among the Secondary IV students in a certain Malay secondary school, the majority of the students indicated their preference for these subjects to be taught in English. However, the proposal of the Member will be taken into consideration when we plan for next year's intake.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Sir, in addition to the classes at the Sang Nila Utama and the National Junior College, will the Minister of State consider opening up another Malay Pre-University class in Tun Sen Lanang?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Whenever sufficient staff and facilities are available, we will consider the Member's proposal. As the intention of the Government is to concentrate all the Pre-University classes in the Junior Colleges, therefore, there is no purpose in diverting them in various centres at the moment.