INDEPENDENT AND NON-INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Education what will be the ratio of Government recurrent expenditure per year on each pupil in an independent school to that of a pupil in a Government non-independent school.

Dr Tay Eng Soon (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, this question is premature as the implementation plan for independent schools has not yet been finalized. One possibility that is being considered is for Government to give a grant for each pupil studying in an independent school equivalent to the recurrent expenditure expended by the Government on a pupil in a Government school today.

Mr Chiam See Tong: I am asking for the ratio of recurrent expenditure. I did not hear the answer.

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thought I have already given the answer.