EDUCATIONALLY SUBNORMAL CHILDREN (Government responsibility)

Dr Lau Teik Soon asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education whether the Ministry will take over full responsibility for the education of the educationally subnormal children in Singapore and, if not, whether the Ministry will provide material, financial and other forms of assistance to the Association for Educationally Subnormal children so that the Association can fulfil its educational role.

Dr Tay Eng Soon (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government has given and will continue to give assistance to voluntary organizations in the education of the educationally subnormal and other handicapped children. The Government's policy is to encourage the efforts of the voluntary organizations which are running the special schools and to support them wherever possible.

The Ministry of Education seconds teachers to the special schools at the rate of one teacher for every 25 pupils. The Ministry of Social Affairs provides instructors for the School for the Blind and the School for the Deaf. The Ministries of Social Affairs and Health give annual grants to the special schools to meet part of their recurrent expenditure.

Presently, 66 Government teachers, five relief teachers and 11 instructors are deployed to the special schools. Seven of these teachers are in schools run by the Association for Educationally Subnormal Children. The total Government subsidy per pupil in the special schools taking into account the grant provided, the teachers and instructors provided, is $1,879 per pupil in 1983. This is 47% more than the subsidy of $1,274 per pupil in the regular primary schools in 1983.

In terms of physical facilities, three school buildings have been made available to the special schools at nominal rental. Two of these schools are run by the Association for Educationally Subnormal Children, At the request of the Association, the Institute of Education will be conducting a course for special education teachers, including teachers of the educationally subnormal from January 1984. The course is a three-year part-time course leading to the Certificate in Special Education.

Dr Lau Teik Soon (Serangoon Gardens): A supplementary question, Sir. In view of the long waiting list by parents of ESN children and the long waiting time - I understand some as long as three years before they can get a place - will the Minister consider providing the Association for Educationally Subnormal Children the facilities in terms of classes and teachers so that they can effectively carry out their programmes?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we will favourably consider the request of the Association for Educationally Subnormal Children when they approach us.