GRADUATES FROM THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Mr S. Chandra Das asked the Minister for Education (a) how many trainees have graduated from the College of Physical Education since its establishment; (b) how are the graduates deployed in schools, junior colleges and pre-university centres; (c) what percentage of their time is taken up on PE activities as opposed to the teaching of academic subjects; and (d) whether he has any plans to expand the intake of trainees in the College.

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: (a) Since its establishment, 44 College of Physical Education trainees belonging to the first intake have graduated. Another 62 will be sitting for their final examinations in May this year.

(b) Out of the 44 trainees who graduated 37 have joined the Education Service, 14 are in the junior colleges, 5 in secondary schools with pre-university centres and 18 in other secondary schools. Those posted to junior colleges are teaching PE full time. Those in pre-university centres and secondary schools teach PE as their main subject but they also teach an academic subject for which they have also been trained.

(c) On the average, about 79% of the teaching time of the PE teachers is in PE.

(d) When the new CPE campus is completed by 1989, it is planned to increase the intake to 100 per annum.