BASIC COURSE AND JUNIOR TRAINEE SCHEME

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education whether facilities for vocational training are available to each and every student who is unable to complete primary or secondary education so that he or she will be given an opportunity to be trained in a useful trade.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Mr Chai Chong Yii) (for the Minister for Home Affairs and Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, with the introduction of the Basic Course this year, pupils from the primary school system who are less academically inclined and unable to cope with the Standard Course are offered places in the Basic Course. The Basic Course is designed to provide such pupils with the opportunity to continue schooling up to a ninth year at primary level concentrating on the first language, a spoken second language, basic numeracy, arts and crafts and proper social and work attitudes. In addition, those in the final year of the Basic Course who have attained the age of 14 1/2 are provided with domestic science practice for the girls and workshop practice for the boys. Basic Course pupils will have the opportunity to go on to the Junior Trainee Scheme under which they can obtain on-the-job training. The Basic Course and Junior Trainee Scheme will therefore provide opportunities for vocational training to those leaving school at the primary level. Of the 4,376 pupils who failed the Primary School Leaving Examination last year and who were offered places in the Basic Course, a total of 3,450 accepted the offers and were enrolled.

At the secondary level, there is presently no system for channelling those pupils who are unable or unlikely to complete the course with a minimum of 3 passes at O' level in the General Certificate of Education examination. Some do, however, leave school on their own to seek employment or admission to vocational courses conducted by the Industrial Training Board or the Adult Education Board. The Ministry of Education is now studying a possible scheme, in consultation with the Industrial Training Board and the Adult Education Board, under which pupils in the secondary school system who are unable or unlikely to complete the course with a minimum of 3 O' level passes in the GCE examination could be channelled into vocational training to be provided by the ITB and the AEB. When such a scheme is introduced as a follow-up of what is now being practised in the primary school system, both the ITB and the AEB would have to increase their intake capacities for vocational courses. Presently, the ITB can take in a total of about 7,500 per year for such training and the AEB a total of about 3,000. Additional facilities will be added to meet the need if necessary.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Sir, could the Senior Minister of State for Education enlighten this House as to when such a scheme could be implemented since the feasibility studies are being carried out by his Ministry now?

Mr Chai Chong Yii: Sir, if everything goes on smoothly, it may be next year.