TEACHERS AND STAFF OF NINE NEW SCHOOLS (Recruitment)

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Education (a) what measures are being taken to recruit teachers and staff for the nine new schools to accommodate the extra 9000 school-going children in 1995 and (b) how his Ministry will contract this increased capacity in 1996 when there will be fewer children enroling for school.

Dr Aline Wong (for the Minister for Education): Sir, although there will be an increase of about 9,500 pupils in 1995, mainly attributed to the Dragon Year baby boom, the total primary school enrolment in 1995 will still be below the total enrolment in 1993. This is because the enrolments before 1995 included the Primary 7 and 8 streams. The reduced total enrolment for 1995 means that staffing position in primary schools will be comfortable.

The total enrolment in primary schools is projected to increase steadily from 259,000 in 1995 to 298,000 in the year 2000. The question of contracting the capacity for 1996 therefore does not arise.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: Sir, the Primary 1 enrolment is definitely going to be different. There is going to be a difference of 9,000 more children coming into Primary 1, not the total primary school enrolment. So would the Minister please assure the public that this increased capacity for Primary 1 has been specifically looked after? And how is this going to be contracted for 1996 when there will be 9,000 less students going into Primary 1?

Dr Aline Wong: I can assure the House that the increased enrolment of 9,000-plus students in Primary 1 can be accommodated quite comfortably within our present primary school resources because, within the primary schools, teachers can be deployed to teach subjects quite easily and the classrooms and facilities are already available. After 1996, would there be a drastic contraction? This is not the case. The Member will note that the number of students who enter Primary 1 every year is dependent on the birth rate six years ago. In 1986, I think we reached a historic low in the number of births. After that, the number of births rose. In 1988, we had a bumper crop, the Dragon Year babies. From 1996 onwards, we will begin to take in babies born in 1989 and the years after. The number of babies born every year since 1989 has been over and above those born six years ago. So every year, for the number of primary school students who would leave Primary 6, there would be more number of students in Primary 1 to fill the places. So there is no contraction.