SECONDARY SCHOOLS (Building plans)

Mr Ang Mong Seng asked the Minister for Education, with the planned conversion to full-day school of secondary schools, (a) how many more secondary schools will be built by December 2001 and (b) whether there is any plan to build a secondary school in Bukit Gombak constituency in the near future.

The Minister for Education (RAdm Teo Chee Hean): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education has plans to build 33 new secondary schools over the next five years, ie, from now up to year 2002. These 33 new secondary schools are to implement the single-session programme for secondary schools as well as to meet additional secondary school places requirement due to projected higher secondary school enrolment.

There are no plans to build a secondary school within Bukit Gombak Constituency. This is because a secondary school site is not available within the constituency. However, a new secondary school is being built at Bukit Batok East Avenue 3. This is for the relocation of Yusof Ishak Secondary School, which is at present at Clementi. This new school will be completed by the end of 1998 and is well placed to serve the residents in Bukit Gombak Constituency. The school is less than 400 metres from the housing area at Bukit Batok East Avenue 2 in Bukit Gombak constituency.