NATIONAL CADET CORPS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.28 p.m.

The Minister for Education (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the Cadet Corps movement in Singapore was founded in 1902 when the first Army Cadet Corps units were formed in Raffles Institution. It was only after the Second World War that the movement gained momentum. In 1947, Army Cadet Corps units were resuscitated; in 1948 the Sea Cadet Corps was formed, followed in 1949 by the formation of the Air Training Corps. Each of these organisations functioned independently of the other. With independence in 1965, the need to inculcate the youth of the Republic with a sense of patriotism and to develop in them ruggedness of mind and body and leadership qualities became imperative. It was considered that an effective way of bringing this about lay in the training provided by the uniformed movement in the schools. An expansion programme of the Cadet Corps movement was therefore embarked upon in 1965. The combined membership of the three Cadet Corps then stood at just over 1,500 with 24 schools participating. Today, the strength of the Cadet Corps has risen to over 14,000 members (9,000 boys and 5,000 girls) with 102 out of 113 secondary schools participating. Next year, the Cadet Corps membership is expected to reach 18,000.

Membership in the Cadet Corps extends from Secondary I to Pre-University I students. It is no exaggeration to say that many of our top Singapore Armed Forces personnel once served as cadets when they were in school. I am informed that cadets, on becoming national servicemen, have acquitted themselves well, setting high standards in discipline, bearing, turnout and performances. That the Cadet Corps provides sound pre-national service training is no modest claim.

With increasing numbers of students wishing to join the Cadet Corps, at one time the movement was faced with the difficulty of training sufficient numbers of officers to meet new demands and to replace those leaving the Corps on promotion, transfers, secondment, study leave and resignations. However, the problem is gradually being overcome with the introduction of cadet training at the Teachers Training College. Last June, 36 TTC trainees graduated as qualified teachers as well as trained cadet officers. Currently, there are 99 final year TTC students undergoing cadet training. Steps are being taken to relieve the shortage of officers in the Cadet Corps through the appointments of SAF reservists who are teachers. Attention is paid to Pre-U I students who are given advanced training for appointment as Cadet Lieutenants.

The expansion of the Cadet Corps movement necessitated a complete review of the Cadet Corps organisation as a whole. Hence on 1st January, 1969, the National Cadet Corps was formed by the integration of the Army, Sea and Air Cadet Corps to strengthen the administration of the Cadet Corps movement and to raise the level of training of all cadets in schools. This move ensures that the best use is made of manpower, buildings, training areas and facilities and of other logistical requirements, resulting in maximum utilisation of available resources. With this integration, new legislation has to be promulgated to replace the existing Acts and Regulations which govern the Army, Sea and Air Cadet Corps separately. Hence the introduction of the National Cadet Corps Bill. In passing, I would like to mention that the Police Cadet Corps does not form part of the National Cadet Corps. It remains under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, steps are being taken to update the Police Cadet Corps Act and the Police Cadet Corps Regulations to bring them in line with the main provisions of the National Cadet Corps Act and Regulations.

With the enactment of the National Cadet Corps Bill, the Cadet Corps will be accorded the status befitting the role it is playing in training our youth to become loyal and responsible citizens as part of our effort to build an organised and disciplined society.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Dr Lee Chiaw Meng].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.