ADMISSIONS INTO MISSION SCHOOLS

Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon asked the Minister for Education, in relation to the admission of Christian children to mission schools, whether he will consider increasing the number of places available under Phase 2B of 1997's primary school admission exercise to 60% of the places available after Phase 2A and, if not, whether he will consider introducing a Supplementary Phase 2B so that children who do not get admission to the mission school of their choice under Phase 2B may be admitted to other mission schools which have places remaining.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: The 50% cap at Phase 2B was introduced in the 1995 Registration Exercise. The objective of limiting the available places at Phase 2B to 50% of the places available after Phase 2A is to give both groups of parents viz those with and those without school connections, an equal chance to register their children in popular schools. During the Primary One Registration exercise this year, balloting was carried out in only 4 out of 30 mission schools at Phase 2B. They are CHIJ (Toa Payoh), CHIJ (St Nicholas Girls'), Methodist Girls' School and St Anthony's Primary School. Only 79 children failed to gain admission to these mission schools during the ballotting at Phase 2B. Except Anglo-Chinese Primary School which closed registration at Phase 2A, all the other mission schools had more places for Phase 2B than applicants. At the end of Phase 2B, there were more than 1,000 vacant Phase 2B places in these mission schools. The Ministry will not therefore increase the number of places at Phase 2B for Christian children from 50% of available places to 60% or introduce a Phase 2B (Supplementary) for the unsuccessful children.