AIR-CONDITIONING OF CLASSROOMS

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr S. Chandra Das asked the Minister for Education whether his Ministry has any plans to air-condition the classrooms in our schools.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Encik Sidek bin Saniff) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of my Minister.

The Ministry of Education presently has no plans to air-condition the classrooms in our schools. However, the Ministry intends to continue improving the learning environment and working conditions for students and teachers in our schools by air-conditioning selected facilities such as the library, staff rooms, AVA rooms, music rooms and language laboratories in the schools.

In exceptional circumstances, such as excessive noise, air-conditioning has been extended to the whole school, including the classrooms. For example, in Jurong Junior College, the above facilities as well as the classroom blocks are air-conditioned as the college lies directly under the flight path of RSAF aircraft.

Mr S. Chandra Das (Cheng San GRC): Sir, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answer. I have a couple of supplementary questions for him. Firstly, is there a timeframe or a programme to implement air- conditioning in these special facilities, like staff rooms, principal's room, AVA rooms? Secondly, Sir, has the Ministry identified similar schools like the Jurong Junior College, which the Senior Parliamentary Secretary referred to? Thirdly, if these programmes are to be implemented, what is it likely to cost the Government?

Encik Sidek bin Saniff: Mr Speaker, Sir, all these facilities were given to all JCs. But as far as primary and secondary schools are concerned, they are in the Ministry's future plan. On the amount of money that needs to be put aside for this programme, it is roughly about $30 million. In the case of Jurong Junior College, as far as we are concerned, it is the only case. But if there is such a case, I am quite sure the first thing to do is for the principal to write to the Ministry. The Ministry together with PWD will then assess the situation and finally find the best way to solve the problem.