JURONG TOWN REGISTRATION FOR PRIMARY I ADMISSIONS (Proximity to homes for resident children)

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Education what steps the Government proposes to take to ensure that children living in Jurong Town and registered for admission to Primary One classes in 1974 will not be placed in schools far away from Jurong Town.

The Minister for Education (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng): Mr Speaker, Sir, the actual number of children who have registered for Primary I classes in Jurong for 1974 will not he known until the current registration exercise is completed in August. There are more than 1,200 Primary I places available in Jurong area, and this figure is estimated to be sufficient to meet the requirements of the residents there. However, should there be a further demand, some classrooms in the new secondary school can be temporarily utilised to accommodate the extra requirements until the new primary school for Jurong Town Neighbourhood II is ready in the beginning of 1975.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I would like to ask whether the secondary school in Jurong could be completed by the end of this year so that from next year onwards it will be able to take in new students.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Yes, Mr Speaker.