HOUGANG CONSTITUENCY (Projected intake of primary one students)

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Education what is the projected intake of primary one students residing in the constituency of Hougang in 1993 and 1994.

Dr Ker Sin Tze (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Hougang has asked the projected intake of primary one students residing in the constituency of Hougang in 1993 and 1994. The Ministry of Education does not plan student intake at the constituency level. It is planned according to a new town's demand for places. For 1993 and 1994, there will be about 3,500 primary one places provided by schools in Hougang New Town and the vicinity of the new town. This will be sufficient to meet the projected demand for about 2,500 places in 1993 and 2,900 places in 1994.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Sir, is the Minister of State aware that the main primary schools in Hougang, namely, Holy Innocents and Xinghua, have problems in admitting students because they are over-populated? Will the Minister of State assure me that the children of Hougang will be able to be admitted to the schools in the vicinity of Hougang within 2 km from their residence?

Dr Ker Sin Tze: According to the Ministry's estimate, the 3,500 places will be adequate to meet the demands for primary one student intake in 1993, 1994 and even 1995 because children born in the Dragon year will be admitted in 1995. We estimate that the demand by that time will be 3,420 but we have 3,500 places. So it is adequate to take care of all the demands.

As to the number of schools, it is difficult to have so many schools within the constituency of Hougang. But in the Hougang New Town and the nearby areas, we have altogether about 11 schools with 88 classes. The total number of places will be adequate to meet the demand.

As to whether students can go to school within the 2 km requirement, I think it is a bit difficult because of the location, building and the distribution of population. We try to provide places as close to the residence as possible. But physically, I am sure the Member for Hougang also appreciates that there is difficulty in setting up school at the doorstep of the students.