VACANT LAND BETWEEN BLOCKS 401 AND 553 AT JURONG WEST ST 42 (Building of primary school)

Encik Harun bin A. Ghani asked the Minister for Education when his Ministry will build a primary school at the vacant land between Blocks 401 and 553 at Jurong West St 42.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Dr Aline K. Wong) (for the Minister for Education): Sir, the subject site has been rezoned as Residential in the Jurong West Draft Master Plan. Therefore, it will not be used for school development. However, MOE plans to build one new primary school in Jurong West Extension under the 5th Primary School Building Programme.

Encik Harun bin A. Ghani (Hong Kah GRC): Sir, in the development plan for the last five years, the vacant land was earmarked for a school. How come it has suddenly changed to some other development?

Dr Aline Wong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Development Guide Plan has to be reviewed from time to time. However, MOE is cognisant of the fact that there is a need for a primary school in that area and we have provided for one in Jurong West Extension. It is scheduled to be ready before the end of 1999.

Encik Harun bin A. Ghani: Sir, Jurong West is quite far from Jurong West St 42 and there are three primary schools there which are adequate for Jurong West, but they cannot accommodate the children who are living in Hong Kah West 1. We have to face the residents there and in the plan the site was for a school. Who is going to answer them?

Dr Aline Wong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have a ready answer to this question, but we will take a re-look at how the population is distributed. The proposed school is in Jurong West Extension Street 62. We do not know the exact address. But we will look again at the numbers and the population distribution, and so on.