SCHOOLS OFFERING TAMIL AS SECOND LANGUAGE (Registrations for admission)

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education (a) how many Government and Aided English schools offer Tamil as a second language; (b) how many children have registered to take Tamil as a second language in the recent registration for admission into Primary One classes; and (c) whether some schools, in which Tamil was supposed to be taught as a second language, rejected or discouraged parents from registering their children in those schools if they opted for Tamil as a second language.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Mr Chai Chong Yii) (for the Minister for Home Affairs and Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of Government and Government Aided English Schools which offer Tamil as a second language is 69 (53 in Primary and 16 in Secondary). During the recent Primary I Registration Exercise, however, another 33 schools were asked to register children who wish to offer Tamil as their second language.

The recent Primary I Registration Exercise ended on 28th August 1976, and relevant statistics are still being processed. I shall keep you informed when the figure is available. For your information, figures for 1974 and 1975 registrations were 1.542 and 1,563 respectively.

The choice of the second language for their children rests entirely with the parents concerned. No designated school for the teaching of Tamil language has ever rejected or discouraged parents from registering their children on the grounds that they would like their children to offer Tamil as a second language.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, the Senior Minister of State for Education mentioned that another 33 schools had been asked to register children who wish to offer Tamil as their second language. But recently in New Town School when some parents wanted to register their children, who wish to offer Tamil as a second language, there were no vacancies. They live near that school but they cannot get a seat in that school. So they went to other schools but there were also no vacancies. Which school can they go to?

In some of these schools which the parents went to, they were told, "If you are willing to offer another second language, then we can accept your children here." My grandchild went to Anglo-Chinese School and offered Tamil as a second language, but the school said no. They said. "If you want to offer Chinese as a second language, then we will accept." Where is the encouragement of Tamil as a second language? Many children look forward to studying Tamil as a second language but there are no vacancies in such schools.

I propose that the Ministry of Education appoints a Commission of Inquiry into this matter.

Mr Speaker: Mr Govindaswamy, what is your supplementary question?

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, I propose that the Ministry appoints a Commission of Inquiry, and then everything will be put right. I want every Government and aided English school to offer Tamil as a second language. That is my proposal to the Ministry.

Mr Chai Chong Yii: Sir, obviously it is not possible for every school to offer Tamil as a second language. From the figures I gave, in 1974 there were only 1.542 students registered for Tamil as a second language and in 1975 there were only 1.563.

We have more than 350 primary schools and we cannot run a class for two or three students. This year we have announced in the newspapers the designated schools. Here is a question of money. If we have the money, then perhaps we can fulfil the wish of the Member for Anson, but I am afraid I have to disappoint him. It is not possible to do that.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, will the Senior Minister of State for Education agree to encourage the study of Tamil as a second language or not? I want to know that. If he agrees, he must try to find ways and means of implementing it.

Mr Chai Chong Yii: Sir, the study of a second language is encouraged, irrespective of whether it is Tamil or any other language. But we have to look into the rationale of its cost and practicability. If we can do it, then we will do it in designated schools. For example, if we have a sufficient number of students in a particular school - by sufficient, I do not expect the number to be 40, but it must be reasonable enough to form a small class - then the particular language can be taught.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: I agree with the Senior Minister of State. However, if the school does not want to register Tamil as a second language, how can you get the required number?

Mr Chai Chong Yii: Sir, I will appreciate it if the Member for Anson can let me know the particular school where this is going on, so that I can look into it.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: I have already mentioned it. My grandchild went to the Anglo-Chinese School and offered Tamil as a second language. But there was no vacancy and he had to take Chinese as a second language.

Mr N. Govindasamy (Telok Blangah): Sir, is the Senior Minister of State aware that even designated schools have refused to register or have discouraged parents from registering their children who wish to offer Tamil as a second language?

Mr Chai Chong Yii: If the Member can give me the name of the school, then I will look into that.

Mr N. Govindasamy: Can the Senior Minister of State assure the House that if names are given, proper action will be taken to discipline those found responsible for discouraging the parents to register their children who wish to offer Tamil as a second language?

Mr Chai Chong Yii: Sir, if the allegations can be substantiated, I can assure the Member that action will be taken.