COMMITTEE ON COMPULSORY EDUCATION (Update on progress)

Mr Zulkifli bin Baharudin asked the Minister for Education if he will provide an update on the progress of the committee which was formed to study whether compulsory education should be introduced and whether the madrasahs which will be affected by compulsory education will be involved in this process.

The Minister for Education (RAdm Teo Chee Hean): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Committee on Compulsory Education chaired by the Senior Minister of State for Education, Dr Aline Wong, has been formed, and met for the first time in early January this year.

In conducting the study, the Committee will seek the views of the different communities and this includes representatives from the madrasahs who are one of many groups who have an interest in the subject.

The Committee expects to complete its work in 6 to 8 months' time.

Mr Zulkifli bin Baharudin (Nominated Member): Sir, this is a very sensitive and emotive issue amongst members of the Malay/Muslim community and certainly not just for the persons involved directly with madrasahs alone. How would other members of the community and those outside the Malay/Muslim community be involved in this process because education is for every one of us.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, I completely agree with Mr Zulkifli that this subject is one which involves more than just people who run the madrasahs but involves the community at large, and Dr Wong has invited many of these people to attend the sessions to provide their feedback and her Committee would welcome feedback as well, and they would be prepared to receive it directly.

Mr Zulkifli bin Baharudin: Sir, there has been very diverse and even conflicting response from different madrasah administrators, for example, a section of the community. How can these be grouped together to get some consensus, at least among the community, before the Committee can consider what steps to take?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: The Committee would take into the account the feedback of all the various parties before coming to a decision on how to proceed with compulsory education. But it is up to the members whether they want to get together to arrive at a consensus or not. It may not be possible for them to arrive at a complete consensus.

Mr Zulkifli bin Baharudin: Sir, may I ask the Minister, at the moment, whether there are any plans - I suppose that madrasahs will remain - to integrate madrasahs as part of the national education system?

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: The Prime Minister has said on a number of occasions, and so have I, that madrasahs are an important part of Singapore as a whole. It is important that there are madrasahs to provide the opportunity for members of the Muslim community to train their religious leaders for the future. But I think it is premature for me to make a comment on whether it is appropriate for what is basically a religious educational institution to be incorporated into the national education system.