COMPASSVALE PRIMARY SCHOOL ACCIDENT

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Education, pending the results of the investigation in relation to the Compassvale Primary School accident, what measures his Ministry has taken to ensure that all other schools with similar structures are being re-evaluated as to their structural integrity and potential danger to lives.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Dr Aline K. Wong) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, hitherto all development of Government schools undertaken by MOE has been implemented through PWD (now known as PWD Consultants (PWDC)) after the PWD was corporatised with effect from 1st April 1999. The handling of these projects comes under one of the following three arrangements:

(a) The entire project from design to construction is fully taken charge of by PWDC's in-house professionals;

(b) Private sector consultants and contractors are engaged for the project under the Design and Build (D&B) procurement method which requires the private sector consultants to do design development based on PWDC's concept design, and the contractors to execute the works under the supervision of the private consultants; and

(c) The Government farms out the entire project from design to construction including construction supervision to private sector consultants.

For the projects designed and supervised by PWDC, the PWDC is fully responsible professionally for the proper completion of the projects. Similarly, private sector consultants are responsible professionally for the Design and Build and farmed out projects. They must ensure that the design and the works executed by the contractors are in compliance with all building regulations and standards set by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and other relevant Authorities. Compassvale Primary school is a farmed out project, hence the design of the school and supervision of the construction are under the responsibilities of the private sector consultants.

In all cases, PWDC also serves as the project manager. Besides being responsible for the budget and time schedule of the projects and that the user's requirements are met, PWDC must ensure that PWDC's in-house professionals or private sector consultants, as the case may be, obtain clearances from the relevant Authorities before handing over completed school premises to MOE for occupation. All school buildings, like other public buildings, are required by BCA to undergo 5-yearly checks on structures. This BCA requirement has been duly complied with by MOE.

MOE has taken the precaution to ask both PWDC and HDB to check independently for the structural safety of all completed schools that have the involvement of the Professional Engineers and Accredited Checker engaged in the Compassvale project. The schools have been found to be safe. BCA engineers have also checked these schools to ensure that there is no danger from any design fault or physical defect.

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh (Nominated Member): From what I read in the newspapers, it is not an architectural problem but a structural one. Could the Minister consider releasing the name of the structural consultant so that other owners of buildings, and not of school buildings, can also check on the safety of their buildings.

Dr Aline Wong: Sir, since the case of Compassvale is still under investigation, it is not advisable to disclose the names of the consultants or the engineers who are the checkers at this point.

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh: May I then have the assurance that once all the information is in, and the report is done, the names will be released to the public so that private owners of buildings can carry out their private investigations and evaluation of the safety of their buildings?

Dr Aline Wong: The question should best be answered by the Minister for National Development because it is under the purview of the BCA.