PREMATURE SCHOOL LEAVERS, 1974-76

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education if he will state the number of premature school leavers in 1977 at (i) primary level; (ii) secondary level: (iii) pre-university level; and (iv) tertiary level, according to the different language streams and expressed also as a percentage of the total student population for each category; and if he will give the comparative figures for 1976 and 1975.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: The statistics on premature school leavers for 1977 are not yet available except for those at primary level. Pupils at the 'O' and 'A' levels are waiting for the results of their Examinations and in the case of tertiary level, they have not sat for the final examination yet. In the circumstances only figures for 1974, 1975 and 1976 are provided. They are as follows:- Year 1974 1975 1976 Primary level (Pr 1-6) 12,040 12,186 10,992 Secondary level (Sec 1-4) 19,763 19,475 20,142 Pre-University 2,693 2,147 2,170 Tertiary 785 622 594

The breakdown of the figures into the English and non-English streams and expressed as a percentage of the total student population for each category is given at Table I below.

The definition of premature school leavers is given at the footnote of Table I. It should be noted that the definition includes students at primary, secondary and pre-university level who sat for PSLE, GCE 'O' and 'A' level examinations but do not pass these examinations. If a premature school leaver within the school system is defined as a student who failed to reach the level at which these examinations are set, the numbers would be very much smaller as given at Table II below.

TABLE I