FULL-DAY SCHOOLS (Conversion programme)

Mr Sia Khoon Seong asked the Minister of Education (a) how many primary and secondary schools will be convened to full-day schools in 1981; (b) whether and when the teachers and parents of the pupils in those schools will be informed; (c) to what extent the curriculum and ECA load for the pupils will be increased and will be different from those in the two-session schools; (d) whether the teachers' teaching load will be increased; (e) whether principals and teachers will be given flexibility in implementing the full-day school programme; (f) how the additional hours will be utilized; and (g) whether adequate facilities, including proper facilities for lunch, will be provided to meet the increased demands of a full-day school programme.

The Minister of Education (Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam): Mr Speaker, Sir, full-day schools will be introduced as a pilot scheme in three secondary and two primary schools next year. The three secondary schools are the Anglican High, Chinese High and Nanyang Girls' High. The two primary schools are Broadrick Primary and Parry Primary. Details of the scheme will be released to the parents and teachers concerned, in the first week of November.

The curriculum and ECA workload will not be increased. The extended school hours from 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. for Lower Primary classes and 7,30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. for Upper Primary and Secondary classes will allow a more relaxed pace of teaching and learning, and much of the homework and assignments given by the teachers can be completed at school.

In view of the extended school day, teachers will have to stay on in school until dismissal time in the afternoon for a few days each week but it is not intended that their teaching load will be increased unduly. No activities will be carried out on Saturdays. Principals and teachers will be given flexibility in implementing the full day programme. The schools will be provided with adequate facilities for teaching, quiet study, rest and recreation. An organised lunch programme is unnecessary and impractical. However, school tuckshops will be upgraded to meet the needs of teachers and pupils.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I know from the Minister whether in planning for the full-day schools, consideration has been given to pupils from a certain section of the population who may have to fulfil certain religious obligations. By virtue of the full-day school scheme, secondary school children especially cannot go home to fulfil their religious obligations. Will there be facilities for such purposes?

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Sir, I have already informed the House that principals and teachers would be given flexibility in implementing the full-day programme. That is the reason why we are starting the full-day school scheme as a pilot scheme next year so that we can see what problems will arise and how they can be best resolved.