SINGAPORE AS REGIONAL CENTRE FOR EDUCATION

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Education what steps the Government has taken so far, or proposes to take, to make Singapore the regional centre for education as recommended by the Services Sub-Committee of the Economic Committee.

The Minister of State for Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am replying on behalf of my Minister.

The Ministry has formed a Working Group to look into specific measures to develop Singapore as a regional centre for education. When the recommendations of the Working Group have been approved by Government, the measures to be adopted will be made public at an appropriate time.

Mr Chiam See Tong: May I ask a supplementary question, Sir? This Working Group has been formed. Could the Minister of State please tell the House what measures have they looked into so far, and have they touched on the private schools in Singapore?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, the Working Group is still at work over its details and I am not ready at the present time to discuss any of them.