CAPITAL GRANT FOR AIDED SCHOOLS

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Education whether the amount of capital grant for aided schools will be increased to 90 per cent.

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 of Education has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance on possible revisions to the capital grant assistance scheme for good aided schools. The proposal is being considered by the Ministry of Finance.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, since the Hon. Minister of State has indicated that his Ministry is taking up this matter with the Ministry of Finance, does he not realize that, with greater improvements in standards of education, it does require more funds? And in this respect, Sir, how does the Ministry propose to convince the Ministry of Finance of the desperate and inevitable need of the aided schools to try and get more funds and therefore they should be more generous and accede to their request for more grants in aid?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Member for Punggol that as a result of a higher standard of school buildings, in the past few years the cost of school buildings has gone up and, indeed, we have made this case to the Ministry of Finance in support of our proposal. I suggest to the Member for Punggol that he might want to raise this question with the Minister for Finance at the next occasion.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State can be assured that I will take this matter up, but first of all, would not his Ministry exert or rather convince the Hon. Minister for Finance of the desperate and inevitable need of these mission schools that in order to have higher standard of educational facilities,such capital grants should be forthcoming?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Mr Speaker, Sir, we are doing all we can.