SCHOOL MISCELLANEOUS FEE INCREASES (Justification)

Dr Lee Siew-Choh asked the Minister for Education if he will justify the Government's decision to increase school fees from 1991.

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government has not increased school fees. The Government has increased miscellaneous fees which are used by the schools to defray expenditure on teaching materials and equipment and to carry out educational projects. Expenditure by schools on such items amount to $29 million in financial year 1990 as against revenues of $25 million at the present rate of miscellaneous fees. The deficit for financial year 1990 is therefore $4 million and this deficit will increase in financial year 1991 if miscellaneous fees are not raised. The increases in the miscellaneous fees, which comprise $1 per month for students in primary schools, $1.50 per month for students in secondary schools, and $2.50 per month for students in junior colleges, centralised institutes and pre-university centres, are modest and well within the capacity of parents to pay. Furthermore, Sir, as I have stated in my speech at the Schools Council Dinner on 24th November this year, if parents require financial assistance to pay the miscellaneous fees, this will be provided generously.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Is the Minister aware that in spite of what he has said, many parents have complained that the cost of education is getting higher and higher nowadays?

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Sir, as I have said, the cost of education must go up because we intend to improve the quality of education in Singapore. The major part of the cost will be provided by the Government and the miscellaneous fees, which amount to some $30 million a year, form only a very small fraction of the over $2 billion which the Government spends on education each year. However, it is not right, neither is it desirable, for Government to pay all the costs of education. Parents should pay a small part of it. This is to emphasize and make the point to parents that they have a responsibility for the education of their children. In any case, Sir, if parents have difficulty in paying schools fees or miscellaneous fees, assistance will be provided.