BICULTURAL STUDIES PROGRAMME

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BICULTURAL STUDIES PROGRAMME: 6.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Education (a) whether there is a quota in the annual intake of local Singaporean students for the Bicultural Studies Programme; and (b) how will his Ministry ensure that a minimum number of local Singaporean students are admitted into the Programme each year.

Mr Chan Soo Sen (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir,the number of applicants for the Bicultural Studies Programme [BSP(C)], "C" for "Chinese",has been encouraging, with 818 students applying for the programme. Thethree schools, Dunman High, Nanyang Girls High and Hwa Chong Institution eventually selected 305 students. Only 4% of those selected were foreign students.

The intake for the BSP(C) exceeded the initial estimate of 200 when weplanned and announced the programme last year. MOE and the schools decided to expand the intake to just over 300 in view of the demand from qualified and interested students.

The purpose of the BSP(C) is to nurture a core group of Singaporean students, and I underline the words "Singapore students",who are able to understand and engage China as well as the West with confidence. They will over time help reinforce our already strong links with China.

To ensure the BSP(C) meets its objectives, however, it is important that the programme is not restricted to only

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Singaporean students alone. The inclusion of some foreign students, for example,those from the People's Republic of China, would enrich the programme. This would benefit the Singaporean students on the programme. It would not only enliven the formal learning that takes place under the programme, but also foster close interactions and bonds between the students. These bonds, that are formed in school, would add to the natural web of relationships between our two countries over time.