PRIMARY SCHOOLS PILOT PROJECT (Evaluation)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr L. P. Rodrigo asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education what is the evaluation of the Primary Pilot Project which is now in its fourth year.

The Minister of State for Education (Mr Chai Chong Yii) (for the Minister for Home Affairs and Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Primary Pilot Project (PPP) for the teaching of English, Mathematics and Science at primary level was evaluated during the period August to November 1973. All the 774 pupils involved in the evaluation were at the end of their second year of primary education. Half were taught in schools using the Project materials and the other half were taught in schools using a variety of non-Project materials. The report shows that generally there was a trend for the mean scores of pupils taught in the Project schools to be significantly better than those in non-Project schools.

Mr L. P. Rodrigo (Serangoon Gardens): Mr Speaker, Sir, what is the Ministry's conclusion? What is the verdict on the Project? Is it intended to continue with the Project and eventually to incorporate it into the Education system?

Mr Chai Chong Yii: The answer is yes, Sir.