PRIMARY 1 COHORTS (Number of students who did not attend kindergarten classes)

The following question stood in the name of Mr Shriniwas Rai -

Mr Shriniwas Rai: To ask the Minister for Education how many students in primary 1 cohorts for the year 1996, 1997 and 1998 did not attend kindergarten classes.

Mr Gerard Ee (Nominated Member): Question No. 2, Sir.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Dr Aline K. Wong): Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of Primary 1 students who did not attend kindergarten classes in 1997 was 397, or 0.8% of all Primary 1 students registered in mainstream schools. The corresponding figure for 1998 is 319, or 0.6%.

Another 499 (1.0%) for 1997 and 329 (0.7%) for 1998 did not provide information on their kindergarten status, even after repeated reminders. Even if we include this group of children as not having attended kindergarten classes, the percentage of Primary 1 students registered in our mainstream schools, who did not attend kindergarten classes, is altogether less than 2%.

Prior to 1997, information on kindergartens attended was not captured for Primary 1 students registered in mainstream schools.