BEST PROGRAMME FOR NATIONAL SERVICEMEN

Dr Koh Lip Lin asked the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health why the Ministry of Defence is introducing the BEST Programme for some National Servicemen, in view of the relatively short period of 2 to 2 1/2 years available to the Singapore Armed Forces to convert them into well-trained combat-ready soldiers.

The Minister of State of Defence (Dr Yeo Ning Hong) (for the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the BEST Programme is part of the national effort to raise the basic educational level of our workforce. Annually, about 4,500 National Servicemen who can benefit from such basic education are enlisted into the SAF. Two years later, they will leave the SAF to join the national workforce. They will remain in the workforce for the next 30 or more years. The productivity and future well-being of these workers are at stake if they are not given extra assistance to improve their basic educational skills right away.

It is MINDEF's contribution to our servicemen to see that they leave the SAF after two years of full-time national service not only as well trained proficient soldiers but that they are also better prepared for their civilian career. The BEST Programme in the SAF will help them. By helping them in their basic education in literacy skills, it is also an expression of MINDEF's concern for the soldier's welfare.

The national BEST Programme consists of two subjects: English and Mathematics. There are four modules per subject. Each module requires approximately 60 hours of instruction. MINDEF has carried out a feasibility study and this indicates that two modules of each subject can be implemented within a two-year NS period. This is bearing in mind that military training and operational readiness must be our primary priorities. We have decided to have classes for English because English is of much more immediate value both to the soldiers while they are in the SAF as well as to them as Reservists after they leave the SAF. Two modules of English Language instruction will take up approximately 120 hours of instruction time and this will be spread over the entire two years of national service.

The BEST classes will only be conducted during such time as the administrative and maintenance periods and will not eat into the training periods for the soldiers. It will also be carried out, wherever possible, during games period or at night when the soldiers are free. They will, therefore, not interfere with the servicemen's military training.

The instructors for the classes in the units are the soldiers' commanders themselves. In this way, strong cohesive teamwork and rapport will be reinforced because the soldiers will realize that their commanders are taking an interest in their education and future well-being. The commanders, in turn, will develop a greater sense of pride and involvement in helping their men. Hence, the programme is not at all in conflict with the primary defence role of the SAF which is to be operationally capable and ready for our nation's defence. In fact, we strongly believe that a better educated national serviceman will make a much better soldier. A cohesive team will also make for a very much stronger and more effective fighting unit.

Dr Koh Lip Lin: Sir, is the MINDEF's BEST programme compulsory, or is it a voluntary participation?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: It is completely voluntary.