PRIMARY 1 ENROLMENT

Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for Education (a) why is Primary 1 pupil admission in selected SAP schools such as Pei Hwa cut significantly when Pre-Primary classes are being introduced in these schools starting 1992; and (b) whether parents will encounter difficulty in enrolling their children in primary schools of their choice come 1993/1994 when the babies born in 1988 reach school entry age.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Tang Guan Seng) (for the Minister for Education): Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

The introduction of the Preparatory Year (PY) classes in 1992, in the new SAP schools such as Pei Hwa, necessitates the conversion of some classrooms to accommodate the PY classes. Due to the constraints of the size of the school building, the intake of Primary 1 pupils has to be reduced somewhat. Moreover, in the case of Pei Hwa, which will be a Day Primary School next year, running only one session, a reduction of Primary 1 intake is unavoidable.

The Ministry of Education assures all parents that there will be enough school places for all children seeking admission into Primary 1 in 1993 and 1994.