L. P. Rodrigo
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would just ask the Minister whether in the implementation of this law there would arise a situation where a blood test is required but it is not available under the circumstances, and in such a situation should the person concerned be unable at the particular time to produce the required urine, would that constitute a j…”
“On the question of education policies and their implementation, teacher unions cannot afford to posturise or compromise to achieve administrative convenience at the risk of a deterioration in the content of education. Principals of primary schools had their post allowances withdrawn.”
“All our constituents need one badly, and although requests have been put forward by some of my colleagues, including the Minister of State for Labour, who is the MP for Upper Serangoon constituency, we have so far received no response.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head R be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1004*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Hwang Soo Jin and P.”
“Sir, one of the hazards of being on good terms with the Member for Katong is that in allowing him to speak ahead of you on a head of expenditure such as this, you find that there is not much else to say. I quite realise that in a debate, repetition is inevitable.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head M be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1003*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Ho See Beng and P.”
The complete record
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would just ask the Minister whether in the implementation of this law there would arise a situation where a blood test is required but it is not available under the circumstances, and in such a situation should the person concerned be unable at the particular time to produce the required urine, would that constitute a justifiable reason under the circumstances?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Minister of State has improved somewhat from omission to ambiguity. He has made all of us more confused. My understanding of the restructured education system was that it would do away with the PSLE which was a kind of objective examination that allowed the pupils during examination to gamble as to whether or not the answer provided was right or wrong. We realise the adversities and the weakness of this system and therefore the restructured system introduced an assessment at Primary III to cause a diversification of two streams, one towards six years' primary education and the other towards seven years' primary education. At the end of six or seven years, there would be a second assessment. But the understanding was that such an assessment would not be on the lines of the PSLE where a student ticks away answers to questions. It would be an assessment based on the yearly performance of the pupils as they proceed upwards. Let us for the time being forget about the non-retention of students. This is going to complicate things much worse if we start talking about it at this stage. I agree with the Member for Moulmein that what is necessary at this stage is a categorical statement by the Ministry of Education on what is happening now with the restructured system. Are we having a seven-year primary education and would there be a selection process undertaken at that point to stream some pupils to the nine-year primary education? And what kind of selection process is going to be held at that point? Sir, can the Minister answer my questions before I ask more questions?”
“On the question of education policies and their implementation, teacher unions cannot afford to posturise or compromise to achieve administrative convenience at the risk of a deterioration in the content of education. Principals of primary schools had their post allowances withdrawn. This change removed administrative difficulties in selecting senior teachers as principals of primary schools At the same time, the professionals in the Ministry are prepared to admit that the system should assist in achieving the correct motivated principal for the school in order that the entire school functions. If the restoration of post allowances for such principals is necessary I would urge the Minister to do so. The Chairman: Mr Rodrigo, your time is up.”
“I expressed this worry in 1968 where I insisted that quality in education can be achieved only when the classroom retains the intimacy of the teacher-pupil relationship. I would urge the Minister to explore the desirability of once again recovering what we formerly had, that is, the true form teacher. But let me say that our education system has not collapsed. There are major defects. If we are to attempt the correction of these defects we must be realistic. These defects cannot be solely attributed to the system. The failure in or the non-performance of teachers has helped to bring about these defects. The bull in the china shop is all right. Sir, but teachers are not china wares also. If I am the Backbencher to say these unpopular things, let it be so. But to what extent the system has been responsible in stifling the performance of teachers so that their performance as the teacher has been aborted or retarded by the system, is a matter for the Minister to find out and correct. Here, I wish to make the point that the Ministry in charge of half a million pupils and the teacher unions representing approximately 20,000 teachers determine much of the future of our society. While I realise that parents in their homes owe it to themselves and their children to begin laying the basis for the development of character and ability, many parents still depend and, in fact, expect the institution of the school to nurture their children into citizens useful to parents and society. This in itself calls for a re-education of parents. In this co'inection, what does the Minister think about reactivating on a mass scale parent-teacher association? Teacher unions have grave responsibilities in the effort to make our education, system successful.”
“In this case the Ministry did rearrange the diversion to take place at the end of Secondary II in 1969. But I am sure it was not as a result of my having raised it. Suffice it to say that my anxieties have been confirmed by the initiative of the Ministry. I have made these flashbacks with the intention of indicating to the Minister that on education the Backbench has searched the subject and articulated on it extensively in Parliament. Contributions have come from the Members for Jurong. Paya Lebar. Jalan Kayu and Telok Blangah. I hesitate to include the Member for Moulmein. I think he holds a watching brief for teachers in this House. If I have omitted quoting all Members it is purely because of a lack of time. We are realising today that the traditional media in which the education of pupils is undertaken, i.e, the classroom, has lost its effectiveness as the form at the primary level. The classroom has always been a grouping in which there quickly developed a relationship between teacher and pupils that made education possible and effective. This form dissipated as soon as subject teaching was liberally used in the primary schools. If four subjects in the class time-table draw into the classroom four different teachers of the subjects, then the close intimate relationship between one teacher and 35 pupils is lost and in its place there is only the indifferent communication link between one teacher and 140 pupils. What happens then is that you no longer tend to have education but instruction and therefore you no longer have schools but centres of instruction. Subject teaching may be suitable as a method of instruction, but is it suitable as a form of education?”
“Sir, I am trying to hurry between the interpreters and your ten- minute guillotine. The Chairman: That is too bad. You are so long-winded.”
“I would suggest that the Government consider making the diversion at the early secondary school sta9e.'”
“' Even at this time I was already aghast at the kind of effects that the non-retention policy was producing. The non-retention policy was introduced in 1956 by the Ministry of Education to correct the inability of the administration at that time to build schools sufficiently fast enough to accommodate a backlog of children due to commence schooling. Today the Ministry has also discovered the meaninglessness of the Primary School Leaving Examination and has initiated the assessment system at the end of six years' primary education. This is also done at the end of the third year of primary education as described in the restructured system. This is intended to divert pupils at an early stage so that they will be able to learn at their own rate of capacity. In the debate in 1968 after underlining the adverse effects that the Primary School Leaving Examination was having on our primary and secondary education I said [Hansard, Vol. 27, col. 89]: `Sir, as suggested, the Primary School Leaving Examination may be suitably modified or even abolished and in its place a system of annual assessment set up.' I also said in that debate [Hansard. Vol. 27, cols. 87-8]: `Sir, diversion of academic potential, which is the end product of six years primary education, to technical education and vocational training is short of what is ideally correct. Diversion of primary school students to vocational training as it is being done today must cease. It is a diversion of primary school students who have failed in the Primary School Leaving Examination. notoriously, abbreviated as PSLE, and who are over-aged. It operates on the inscrutable theory that the overage rejects of this examination have an aptitude for vocational training.”
“364): `The reason why I am concerned with the subject of education is my belief that it will take a new society, a society with radically different responses and reactions, if we are to achieve national security and prosperity in the years ahead. And in the final analysis, it is the content of the education that we provide our young today which will determine their responses and reactions tomorrow.' Today we have improvements of the recently restructured system. The recently restructured system was a restructure of the system restructured in 1968. At that time I said [Hansard, Vol. 28, col. 365]: But today we have restructured our education system. The restructuring is extensive in scope, involving primary, secondary, technical, tertiary and teacher education which I hope is a final restructuring, and is intended to describe in perspective our education system.' 2.45 p.m. I was a little optimistic. Today we have identified certain basic difficulties in our system, one of which is the non-retention policy by which pupils get promoted upwards irrespective of their performance in the year. This difficulty, we all seem to agree, is partly responsible for the slide into illiteracy. But the Backbench identified it in 1968. In the debate on the President's speech in May that year I said, after analysing the defects of the non-retention policy [Hansard. Vol. 27, col. 89]: `The non-retention policy by which the student of maximum age for that class is promoted to the next grade at the end of the year, despite his failure in the terminal examinations, progressively worsens his inarticulateness apart from his overall ability. Sir, this is a decline which must be arrested immediately.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at the outset I wish to stress that the observations which I will make under this head are made with the knowledge that the Minister of State has a difficult job on his hands. But at the same time I want to say that he must grasp in perspective the problems that have bedevilled the Ministry, and in this regard I will make references to specific issues which I have raised in this House. In doing so, I also wish to indicate to the Minister the existence in his Ministry of a professional mechanism which appears to obscure fundamental errors of decision in education policy or implementation of policy. I would warn the Minister of the propensities of this mechanism and to ask him to be alert in issues of education at all times. If there is one Ministry the successes or failures of which determine the successes or failures in other Ministries and ultimately in the performance of the nation, it is the Ministry of Education. Education makes the kind of manpower which will fill the Ministries and which man the nation. It determines the kind of young people you have, the workers, the soldiers, the managers, the leadership you have; and then it also determines the kind of teachers you have. And if these teachers are 30% below par, then their pupils will probably be 30%-plus below par; and if some of these pupils themselves become teachers then these teachers will probably be 3O%-plus-3O% below par, and so on. Finally teachers will not be able to give much of value to the pupils because they have not got the stuff themselves. On this, I said in 1968 Hansard, Vol. 28, col.”
“(5) That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of item (a) of subhead BBA 2190.”
“(3) That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 2310.”
“All our constituents need one badly, and although requests have been put forward by some of my colleagues, including the Minister of State for Labour, who is the MP for Upper Serangoon constituency, we have so far received no response. With a very young population as we have today, it is important that we should provide them with adequate facilities and amenities to let off steam and there is no better way than to get them involved in sports. We urge them to work hard but we should also provide them with opportunities and facilities to enjoy the fruits of their labour in a meaningful way. We decry their habits of frequenting coffee-houses and window-shopping at complexes, but what alternatives are we offering them?”
“Although for the first time there is a proposed grant of $2 million to the Singapore Sports Council, there does not appear to be a firm commitment since it has as yet to be sanctioned by the Development Planning Committee of Treasury who are known to be sticky on items which they consider to be of a non-revenue generating nature. Today. we have heard so much from the Minister for Culture. In any event, to-date the Council still owes the Government a' sum of $3.15 million being part of the costs incurred in the construction of the National Stadium. I would therefore urge the Minister to negotiate with his colleague, the Finance Minister, with a view to obtaining his agreement to allocate the entire increase in revenue from higher duty on tobacco for use in the promotion of sports. I would also urge the Hon. Minister to follow up the suggestion which I made during the debate on the Budget that all the surpluses of Singapore Pools (Pte.) Ltd, should go towards the promotion of sports. And how about making it compulsory for the Singapore Turf Club to surrender part of their takings annually for the promotion of sports? Surely, betting on horses is just as much an anti-social habit as smoking. Whilst we have over the last few years been expanding our sports and recreational facilities, these are unfortunately not sufficiently decentralised as to be near centres with heavy concentrations of population. For instance, the seven constituencies neighbouring Jalan Kayu, namely. Upper Serangoon. Tampines, Nee Soon, Punggol. Sembawang and Serangoon Gardens, have a combined population of something like 250,000 to 300,000, but there is not a public swimming pool nearby.”
“Very well, Sir. Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Sir, in his Budget Statement to the House, the Finance Minister showed great concern for the health of smokers and prescribed the shock treatment of higher customs and excise duty on tobacco. As a fairly heavy smoker myself. I must admit that I am responding to the treatment. The prospect of having to pay more for cigarettes has shocked me into cutting down on my consumption. Over the last few years, our Government seems to rely on higher taxes, charges and fines as a panacea for numerous social ills. Singapore became cleaner because of the introduction of heavy fines for littering; to reduce the number of cans on the road, we raised the road tax; to cut down on consumption of water, we raised the price of water. I am not here to question the wisdom of such measures, although in passing. I think it is pertinent to say that whilst in some cases the end justifies the means, this sort of "stick" ought to be used discriminately and as a last resort only when other measures of a less severe nature have failed to produce results. What I really want to say under this subhead is simply that since the recently announced increase in duty on tobacco is with a view to bringing about better health to the people, the increased revenue derived therefrom which is estimated to amount to several millions of dollars should properly be spent on promoting better health of our people. In this regard, I cannot think of a better way of spending it than on the promotion of sports. Sports, as I see it, is perhaps the best form of preventive medicine. But looking through the expenditures of the Ministry over the last few years, I am unable to find evidence of active financial support having been given to the promotion of sports.”
“I think I made it quite plain at the outset that I was touching on the policy of the fire fighting capacity of the Fine Brigade.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head R be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1004*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Hwang Soo Jin and P. Govindaswamy.) Under this subhead, I would touch upon the fire fighting policy of the Ministry with regard to improving the Fire Brigade's fire fighting capacity to control fire hazards in high-rise buildings. I think we are all aware. Sir, that high-rise building is now the chief media of urban development and more and more of our people will be located in high-rise buildings in the future, Along with this, I would expect that the Fire Brigade's capacity --”
“Sir, one of the hazards of being on good terms with the Member for Katong is that in allowing him to speak ahead of you on a head of expenditure such as this, you find that there is not much else to say. I quite realise that in a debate, repetition is inevitable. But in this remarkable incident, if I were to speak it might appear that the Member for Katong had stolen my notes last night and formulated the address which he has so ably presented this afternoon! So I have nothing more to add but to concur with all that the Member has said in regard to policy and to support him fully in his suggestions.”
“In the terrace, semidetached or kampong house, the youngsters in the family have got the opportunity to experiment, to tinker, to do carpentry, to engage in mechanical pursuits, either as a hobby or otherwise, in the garden, in the backyard or in the space around the house. It is this tinkering, this experimentation, this doing things which develop a creative and innovative potential in the youngsters who become innovative and creative adults and workers of the future. When there is this loss of opportunity to our populace by moving into HDB flats where these things cannot be done or undertaken, there is loss of this potential. Therefore, I think if, as a result of liaison between the Board and the People's Association, there can be accepted the concept of incorporating in the community centres in the housing estates work-rooms with work-benches for youngsters in the estate to pursue hobbies or to do things. I think this would retrieve to some extent the kind of loss that we are undergoing. It is the fashion of the People's Association to advise the Board what facilities to incorporate in the community centres, usually it is basketball court or facilities for table tennis and meetings. But I do not think that this concept has been accepted yet or has been discussed by the Board in setting up community centres. I intend to raise this again when the People's Association comes up for discussion under the Head. Ministry of Culture. But I am bringing it up at this point so that the idea or the concept can be recognised by the Board.”
“What is developing in these homes by way of disintegrating the family is a habit of parents not coming together in meals. What is happening is that parents are settling their lunch or dinner problem by distributing 50 cents. 80 cents or a dollar each to the children in the family, who immediately disperse to their favourite hawker in the hawker centre. There results immediately a disintegration of the family whence there could have been an opportunity for the whole family unit to cohere in a function of the day. This is happening extensively. If one ponders the extent to which this can go and the extent of the disintegration of the family unit in the years to come unless something is done, I think it is disturbing. One cannot require the Board directly to be involved in trying to turn flats into homes because this is basically the problem of the occupants. If there is, in the thinking of the Board, an effort that can assist this development - frankly speaking. Sir, I have not studied as to how to make a constructive suggestion along these lines - I think it is going to do us a lot of good. The second point that I wish to raise actually concerns community centres in the housing estates. I raise this point because I feel it is necessary for the concept or the idea to get accepted by the Board. I quite understand that in regard to building community centres in housing estates, the Board liaise very closely with the People's Association in this regard. I am thinking, Sir, of what may not be a perceptible loss in our populace as our families move into the Housing Board flats from the terrace, semi detached or kampong house. Something is lost and it is this.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as has been pointed out by the Member for Kampong Kembangan, there is provision under this subhead to spend a huge sum of money in the year ahead to build flats for the people. I think there is a wide recognition and appreciation of the efforts of the HDB, despite the grumblings of the Member for Telok Blangah, and if this appreciation is not voiced, I can assure the Minister that it is there in the people. I would like to take this opportunity to express some fears that I have as to the future of our people in the HDB flats in addition to the pertinent points that have been raised by the Member for Ulu Pandan. Our people. Sir, in future will have no alternative but to get slotted into HDB flats. They will have to convert these houses into homes, and the thought of the future with hundreds of thousands of our people living in such flats can be nightmarish if what happens eventually is a potential tumultuous restlessness in the people living in these flats. This will happen if these flats are not homes. So apart from the defects in construction, I think the paramount consideration is how the Board can assist the people in turning these flats into real homes where there can be a way of life and contentment. Pressures apply to families living in these homes, very centrifugal in nature, disintegrating the family, pressures upon children which require them to leave their homes pressures upon parents which require them to be absent from the home and, in fact, unwittingly the Board has developed a situation which assists in the disintegration of the family, Sir. The Board sets up good housing estates and, at the same time, good hawker centres.”
“Sir, I am very appreciative of the reply given by the Minister of State, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, on a point of clarification. I beg to intervene at this stage. I think the Minister of State is going on to other subheads on which there are amendments to be moved -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head M be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1003*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Ho See Beng and P. Govindaswamy.) Sir, this amendment gives me the opportunity to ask of the Minister for his overview of the development of post-Vietnam politics in relation to the neutrality of South-east Asia and to super power assertions in the region. What may be the realistic expectations of ASEAN countries of adequately meeting the difficulties likely to confront them in the years ahead?”
“There are needed suitable TV programmes for the masses, programmes which are constructive in the art of living in congestion and constriction, a feature of the times we live in. And other requisities which I shall deal with in the debate on the Estimates. I wish to make the comment that there may be developing a tendency of the Government to ignore the need to be rational in its explanation of actions which tax or restrict the public. The case of the 10-year old car is notorious. The argument that is offered to the public is that if the owner can meet the tax, then the car is fit to be driven. So the conclusion drawn is that our roads are fit only for those who can pay to drive their old cars or who can afford to buy new cars. Such actions of the Government do not assist in strengthening in our society the realisation that we can survive and prosper only when the people and the Government act in concert in the interest of the common good. These are times when the people must clearly understand the whys and wherefores of Government actions affecting their lives because we are moving into an increasingly regulated life-style, and must do so if every one is to have his modicum of the good things. People still cherish the style of the recent past- the pre-recession, pre-inflation period and will find some difficulty in adjusting to the economy of living which has been made necessary for us by issues which are global in origin and effect and beyond our control. But I say, Sir, as much as the people should not take the Government for granted, the Government cannot afford to take the people for granted. 5.25 p.m.”
“I put the view that if there had been any such effort, obviously it had not succeeded, But on the other hand, if it had, urgency of traffic congestion in the city area and the slide into illiteracy in education would have been apparent in the early stages and the situation remedied in good time without having to resort to a succession of remedial measures which are causing confusion and eco-spasms in some families as parents attempt to understand the meaning of education policies and as they budget to retain the small family car. Government is known to execute its plans for the prosperity and security of the country in accordance with the order of priorities it determines from time to time. Foremost in the list of national priorities would be matters pertaining to the economy of the country and security. But there are societal needs which may not qualify for priority rating on the basis of national urgency but which are nevertheless important social requisites in the development of society. These are disregarded today to the poverty of our children in human values tomorrow, If the direction, along which our society is urged, is towards opportunities for the acquisition of sufficient needs, social security and the intangibles which make the good society, then these needs must be met so that our people will be able to give their lives and souls meaning and contentment. Suitable community centres are places which provide opportunities for interaction among people. So far down the scale of priorities are community centres that Government expects people to help pay for the establishment of even one key community centre in each constituency.”
“The record, that is, the Hansard, shows that the Backbenchers had already vigorously posed the problem of traffic congestion and the need for a sound bus transport system as far back as December 1968. Between 1968 and the end of 1975 no jolting measures beyond widening roads were undertaken to cope with the problem. On the contrary, high-rise development concentrated in the city. Mass transit commuters grew in numbers. Then, in a flash as it were, realisation struck. In the field of education, critics in the Back-bench abound. Again since 1 968 there were repeated pleas for coherent long-range planning in education. There was sufficient articulation to show that the system was not working. An effort in replanning would have involved a reconsideration of the economic, social and cultural premises upon which the system was based. This could have thrown up areas of indiscretion, over-zealousness, irrelevance, administration myopia or plain blind-alleys in education. Instead only the system was structured and restructured. The compartments and corridors were redesigned when what was required was a survey of the building's entire layout and location in relation to the mainstream of the country's educational future. Then again in an' instant, so to speak, there was discovered grave defects in education and there was felt the need to remedy these defects in a hurry. These developments I have described in traffic congestion and education stress the point that there was lacking the effort to monitor the effects of policies after implementation and the coordination of the effects of policies implemented by Ministers.”
“But at this point of our economic growth we cannot afford to risk the competitive edge of our economy being blunted either by youthful labour copping out of employment for diverse reasons or for the reason that industry has failed to meet their wage expectations. With immigrant labour standing at 100.000 up, parents who are supporting their unemployed adolescent or adult sons who choose to be unemployed had better rearrange the domestic expectations of these young men so that they are persuaded into gainful labour for their own benefit and for the lasting economic good of the country. Ours is a youthful, vibrant generation of workers. Those between 1 5-34 years above constitute an extremely high percentage of the economically active persons in society numbering 873.000, If this manpower, our young workers, can reconcile their estimation of their own worth with the wage capacity of our industries under the guidance of the National Wages Council, and offer good labour for wages, our economy will continue to demonstrate its resilience, and collectively we, as a people, will benefit. Having said a few words on the question of our manpower, I wish to refer to another problem which is basic. I will refer to a specific development in the field of transport and education and, thereafter, I will allude to the shortcoming in the Administration. There emerged in Parliament in 1974 a hefty debate on traffic congestion in the city area and the bus transport system. Following this debate a number of measures preventive and penalising in nature were taken in quick succession. They caused much pain because these measures offered the choice of sudden inconvenience or payment. Motorists cringed and paid.”
“This calls for long-range manpower planning to mesh with the economic directions into the years ahead. Of course there are areas in which it might not be prudent to make forecasts as changes in science and technology in the world are taking place with astonishing rapidity. But adequate manpower planning there must be. This is possible because the variables involved in manpower planning are relatively uniform and manageable. It is therefore correct that Government should be spending $41 million on industrial training through the Industrial Training Board and Economic Development Board to enhance the economicability of our manpower. However, certain questions may be asked in regard to the effectiveness of ITB as it is presently organised and managed. What is the rate of drop-out in the course of training? What is the rate of trainees who, having completed training, do not seek employment in the industries? And what are the reasons for this situation aside of the explanation that wages in industry are not attractive? I do not expect the Minister to supply me with the answers in his reply. But neither have I asked these questions merely to be rhetorical. By these questions. I wish to make the point that these moneys which are to be spent by ITB and EDB for financial year 1976 should produce the expected results. This leads to that aspect of the problem of manpower which disturbs all of us - the reluctance of our young workers to accept employment these days in the industries. That they will, in the course of time, do so, is anticipated.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir, I rise in support of the motion standing in the name of the Minister for Finance. I would like at the outset to join fellow Members in the view that, relative to the economic adversities experienced by similarly exposed economies as the result of the global recession in 1975, our economy has performed satisfactorily at 4.1% growth. Our economy has thus demonstrated a resilience acquired by the diversification of activities, particularly in the service sectors. This performance we expect would generate some more confidence in the economy and with it, greater economic enterprise to meet the needs of a more relaxed world, we hope, in the near future. We are today 156 years old as a community of peoples who converged on to this island for a living, 16 years old as a people under the management of this Government, and 10 years old as a sovereign nation responsible for its own successes or failures. We have reason to be satisfied with what has been collectively achieved in 16 years. Central planning based on national priorities, a dependable administration and regulated private enterprise have been key factors in the economic strategy for survival and success. But the principal force which bolsters this strategy is our manpower. If our manpower can continually increase its economicability in both the public and private sectors, our industrialisation will take off and the resulting economic momentum can be sustained. There is already generated in the manufacturing and service industries sufficient potential for the final lift but, markets aside, the primary back-up factor is our manpower. Our manpower must be able to cope with the requirements of the manufacturing and service industries at all levels of technology.”
“If the Students' Union shows any real alarm over this amendment, I think it is based on the belief that the Council will suppress legitimate student activities in the future, which belief at this stage must surely be premature. As I see it, the reconstructed Council under the Bill comprise various personalities who should be able to consider and decide impartially the desirable application of Union funds. To argue that by this amendment the Union will be hamstrung in the application of its funds is, [think, to start off by saying that the majority of the members in the Council will comprise puppets who are, therefore, not suitable for office in the Council. This argument is frivolous and, I think, facetious, as it passes adverse judgment on the capacity of people who have not yet begun to exercise this capacity. But in concluding, Sir, the point I wish to stress is simply, or what surely must be, the accepted principle in the expenditure of Union funds. These funds are largely made up of students' subscriptions during their stay in the University. They should, therefore, be expended for the proper interest of the general body of the students. If there should be an authority set up to ensure that such funds should not be expended wastefully or in a manner contrary to the interests of the general body, then surely commonsense must dictate that such an authority is welcome. 5.13 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I approached the House just now my vision was arrested by the colossal claims of the present student leadership that their freedoms are being fundamentally attacked. In view of that fact, may [just make some comments on this Bill? I just wish to make a brief comment on clause 3 of the Bill and the amendment to section 45 of the Constitution, contained in clause 4. Sir, clause 3 brings the Singapore Students' Union within the purview of the authority of the Registrar of Societies. In the light of the Minister's explanation, many of the anxieties of the present student leadership must surely have been allayed. But it seems to me that the big commotion about this provision in the Bill bringing the Students' Union within the authority of the Registrar of Societies is misconceived. Up to now the constituent bodies of the Students' Union have all along been registered bodies under the Societies Act. It seems strange that hitherto the student leadership has not found it necessary to claim that its constituent bodies have had their fundamental freedoms attacked. But now when the provision in this Bill attempts to bring the Students' Union within the purview of the Registrar of Societies' authority, this claim is loudly made. I think there is some confusion in the thinking of the present student leadership and it would be well for them if their articulation on issues take on a sober and mature note. The amendment to section 45 of the Constitution allows the Council of the University to determine how Union fees may be applied for the purpose of the Students' Union and its constituent bodies.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what is the Ministry's conclusion? What is the verdict on the Project? Is it intended to continue with the Project and eventually to incorporate it into the Education system? Mr Chai Chong Yii: The answer is yes, Sir. REFRESHER COURSE FOR TEACHERS (Particulars) 2. Mr L. P. Rodrigo asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education when the last refresher course for teachers was held; how many teachers completed that course; how many teachers of five years and more of teaching experience have not attended any refresher course todate; and how does such a course attempt to orientate teachers to the social and economic priorities of the State.”
“Sir, if I may first clarify. With regard to clause 5 (4), I was making reference to line 3 where there is a possibility of enlarging the private drain. If it is adopted by the Director, such enlargement, I think, would necessarily mean a loss of land. And if there is loss of land in such a case, will there be any compensation? Matters of compensation as provided for in clause 39 can arise only if they specifically refer to compensation arising from that particular clause 39. But in clause 5 there is no mention of compensation. Therefore, if there is loss of land on the part of the owner due to an enlargement of the drain which has been adopted by the Director, will the owner be entitled to compensation? That is the point that I intended to make in my reference to clause 5. With regard to clause 11, the only point that I intend to make thereto is this. If any action under clause 11(1) is contemplated by the Director, will any notice be issued to the owner? I ask this question because no mention of notice has been made in this clause.”
“Is it contemplated in the provision that the Director will claim from the owner the cost of the works undertaken by the tenant? I will appreciate it if the answers to my queries will be accorded by the Minister.”
“Sir, I must say that public interest and anxiety in relation to water conservation, water pollution and drainage are arranged with some coherence in this Bill. Having studied this Bill, I wish to seek some clarification and to invite the Minister to respond with some answers on the matters that I intend to raise. In clause 5 of the Bill, there is provision for the Director to declare the adoption of private drains. There is also provision for appeal by the person or owner affected. If the grievance is a possibility of loss of land, as would appear to arise under subclause (4) of clause 5 of the Bill, then provision in regard to compensation should have been made here. But there is no reference to compensation in the clause. The question therefore arises as to whether or not the aggrieved owner can make a claim for compensation because clause 39, the section that refers to compensation, makes reference to compensation only when it arises in that particular provision in the Bill. Secondly, with reference to clause 11 of the Bill which refers to drainage works that the Director can undertake, will notice arise under this provision as much as notice will arise under clause S of the Bill? Finally, with reference to clause 40 of the Bill, there is provision to allow the occupier or tenant of the premises to undertake drainage works as approved by the Director and to make a claim on the owner for the cost of such work. Provision is also made here for the occupier or tenant to offset against the rental due to the owner of the premises. But such offsetting could be written into an agreement between the tenant and the owner, in which event this would deprive the tenant of the facility to offset under this clause against the rental due to the owner.”
“Sir, I did mention that was a desirable amendment. I only referred to clause 4 (b).”
“The ship probably operates elsewhere but the seaman comes for an indeterminate period, I suppose on leave or for other purposes, back in Singapore. Administratively, it is possible to come to some satisfactory arrangement but I do not know whether we can do much better in the legal definition in stating the total number of days. The Member made another comment on clause 5 (a) which I was not clear about. This is in respect of allowances which leave nothing for income distribution. I thought that was a desirable amendment.”
“Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, I am in some difficulty in replying to these criticisms because they are matters of technical detail. On the first proposal about revealing information on taxpayers' matters I thought that we had taken care of the problem which was presented and that this had been carefully drafted. I do not know in what way this provision can be improved. If the Member for Kuo Chuan has any special change in the drafting, perhaps this could be moved in the Committee stage. I thought that this provision was satisfactory. I assume that professional bodies often get information which they must keep confidential even in their proceedings before the professional body. The names of the particular taxpayer could be suppressed. Names could be omitted or replaced by alphabetical symbols and the details of the taxpayer need not be given. The nature of the misconduct probably relates only to a particular act which may not concern the whole of the taxpayer's financial affairs. I would be prepared to listen to any desirable amendment in Committee. With regard to the comments by the Member for Serangoon Gardens on balancing charges, I think he welcomes clause 3. But he thought that under clause 4 (a) (w) the word "substantially" should be defined. I will give consideration to some administrative definition of the word "substantially", but I do not know whether in fact a line can be drawn as we have drawn for clause 4 (b) (new subsection (4) ) where 60 days were given. This is a well recognised limitation for that particular purpose -employment exercised in Singapore by short-term visiting employees. I doubt whether there can be a very much closer definition than the word "substantially". The point is that in some cases the seaman is from Singapore and he goes on a ship.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I just wish to make observations on some of the clauses in this Bill. On clause 3 (a) of the Bill, I am sure the shipping community will welcome this proviso which no doubt will give a fillip to shipping activity in Singapore. This proviso excludes from tax the balancing charge arising on the sale of a Singapore ship. Up to now, because of the absence of such a provision, the Comptroller has sought to tax this charge. This measure has to some extent defeated the purpose of section 13 (A) of the Act, that is, to exempt from tax the income derived from the employment or charter of a Singapore registered ship. The other clause that I wish to dwell on is clause 4 (a) of the Bill. I feel that this new amendment will no doubt further assist Singapore shipping but something should he said in respect of the drafting of this clause. In clause 4 (a) paragraph (w) the use of the term "substantially" can give rise to problems of construction especially in the absence of a definition of the term in this Bill or in the Income Tax Act. I am led to wonder why the draftsmen have not chosen to employ a phraseology giving a definite number of days in a year instead, as in clause 4 (b) where the words "sixty days in the year" are used. Lastly, on clause 5 (a), (b) and (c) of the Bill, this is another favourable development. This amendment no longer makes it mandatory for capital allowances to be deducted from the income of a shipping enterprise. At present, this is necessary in determining the exempt profits, the resultant of which is that in many cases, as the Minister quite rightly said, the huge allowances cancel the profits leaving little or nothing for dividend distribution.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with reference to clause 5 of the Bill, I just want to make a brief observation on a matter therein and perhaps seek a clarification from the Minister. In clause 5 there is an exception made for the felling or cutting of trees, i.e, the prevention of imminent danger. I take it that "imminent danger" in the Bill contemplates imminent danger to human life. Would the Minister clarify as to whether the term "imminent danger" also contemplates imminent danger to property and animals, like pigs and pets, etc.”
“(9) That the sum to be allocated for Head W be reduced by $10 in respect of item (h) of subhead AAA 3020. Mr Tay Boon Too(In Mandarin): Sir, I am not moving amendments (4) and (5).”
“(8) That the sum to be allocated for Head W be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 2440.”
“`This includes the implementation of syllabus, choice of textbooks, guidance to project work, supervision of staff, supervision of discipline of the school arid setting the role and leadership of the school. In the light of this problem, Sir, has the administration explored the feasibility and desirability of reverting to the system of one head for one school session? In the present situation, the application of this change will not cause additional money as the appointment of school heads is not a salary appointment as such today but an assignment of office. In addition, or alternatively, school accounts or other administrative matters may be centralised in the Ministry, thus relieving school heads to attend to performance in the classroom. This responsibility may then be properly supervised by inspectors of schools who are now termed Education Development Officers and who thereby would at least and at last be doing a job which befits their designation.”
“The disturbing factor in the logic of poor teachers and substandard teaching is that the pupil, being the product of the teaching of his teachers, will when he himself becomes a teacher, be a teacher with that much less to give, despite the training he will have received in the institute of Education. Thus it appears that if the situation is not corrected, there is a process towards inferior human resource - something which we cannot afford. Sir, I am not particularly in search of sources to lay blame on. I am expressing an anxiety which I hope will invite the Minister's greater attention. I would also like to touch on the role of the school head in primary schools. This has been the subject of much articulation in the past and I think all sources that matter agree that the school head should devote a sizable portion of his time to classroom performance in order to maintain and raise the general standard of teaching, and therefore the standard of education in the country. Although there is agreement on that in the Ministry, there is hardly any appreciable improvement in the opportunity of the school head to worry about matters relating to education. He is burdened with administrative work and any amount of injunction to the school head to raise the standard of teaching in his school will be futile in the face of numerous administrative responsibilities which heads are required to perform. To assist the school head in all this administration work, he has one clerical assistant who is not authorised to sign on his behalf. As a result, much that can be done in the area of educational development is not undertaken with emphasis.”
“Sir, under this subhead I intend to touch on professional areas of responsibility relating to the standard of teaching in the service and problems related to the management of education in private schools. One reads of pupils who cannot count correctly, pupils who cannot speak correctly and pupils who cannot spell correctly, and one gets distressed. There is the tacit claim that the Institute of Education produces well trained, able and committed teachers. But it appears that pupils' performance capacities keep falling. Are our pupils becoming increasingly unteachable? Or have the well trained, able and committed teachers become untrained, unable and uncommitted teachers after a few years in the teaching service and in the profession? If so, then there is in the service and profession a factor or factors which are dissipating the teachers' expertise and their commitment. What are these factors? For one, is it the overwhelming number of women teachers in the schools? This is not to imply that women teachers are inferior teachers, but I have heard it said that they find it difficult to ensure a disciplin- ed class in which only effective teaching can be achieved. Is it because school heads are unable to be as effective as they should in maintaining standards or is it because of factors in the education service relating to promotion prospects? Or is it a malaise, an inertia that is settling upon the teachers eventuating in a commitment to opt out of a commitment to teach? And if so, we still have to know why this is happening. Sir, I think it is pointless to rationalise that the quality of teaching is satisfactory, that a few teachers have deteriorated in their standard, these being a fraction of the large number of teachers and that, generally, all is well.”
“In fact, I see a merit if the Minister could arrange for a situation where the teacher who starts off with a class in Primary I follows the class through to Primary II and to Primary III, because at the end of Primary III that teacher will have a thorough knowledge of his or her pupils and will be better able to make a reliable and accurate assessment of the academic attainment and potential of the child.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, first, I appreciate some of the answers given by the Minister to my queries. But when I cited the hypothetical case of two classes in a primary school, I was merely setting a hypothetical situation to indicate how classes can multiply and teachers can be increased in number if the system is to be implemented. This tendency to multiply need not necessarily be limited to the hypothetical case I have cited. It can happen to the case of two or more classes. Secondly, I did not, as the Minister said, mention that a child having to do four years of upper primary education after Primary III has a stigma attached. This is where the Member for Potong Pasir stands alone in this profound observation. But it did not issue from me. Then I did raise the query of how forms and criteria of assessment will be formulated and I would appreciate a reply from the Minister on this query. Next, I also raised the question of how the performance of a child in the second language under the new system in the three years of Primary schooling, that is, Primaries I, II and III, is going to he decided in so far as it relates to whether a child will do four years or three years of upper primary education after Primary III. I would also invite a response from the Minister to my suggestion that relief teachers should in future never be assigned to primary classes, at least in the first three years in the new system. Nor should teachers in the first three years of primary education be transferred.”
“As regards the PSLE and beyond, the Minister has stated that the PSLE will be a grading exercise to channel pupils into different forms of secondary education and training. Apart from the "0" and "A" levels in the academic, technical and commercial streams, there will be a variety of courses combining general education with technical training or apprenticeship scheme plan for a career in the industrial, commercial and service sectors. The Minister has announced that the restructured system at the secondary level will operate in 1979. He has also announced that the restructured process will begin with Primary III pupils this year and the 1975 batch of Primary IV pupils will continue but making only one other attempt for the PSLE. Thus in three years commencing in 1976 these primary pupils will be graded at the end of 1978 for the restructured system at the secondary level in 1979. So at the end of 1978 there will be grading of PSLE pupils to decide whether they should do courses leading to the GCE or HSC or any of the other courses for a career in the industrial, commercial and service sectors. Such grading must be based on revised upper primary curriculum to operate in 1976, that is, next year. Can the Minister at this stage give an outline description of the other courses? When will the curriculum for operation in 1976 be ready this year and be made public? I have raised these queries in order that the public can grasp the system fully, since the matter of children's education is always a matter of utmost concern to parents. The Chairman: Mr Rodrigo, your ten minutes are up. Dr Lee, would you like to reply to the first few speakers?”
“If not, the disparities in the evaluations between different schools applying individualistic forms and criteria will not achieve a fair assessment of the pupils' performances. Have the forms and criteria of assessment been worked out? If not, I imagine they will be worked out soon. And when they are worked out, can they be applied fairly to assess the pupil's academic performance in Primary I in 1973 and Primary II in 1974 when this continual assessment was then not contemplated? How and to what extent will the pupil's performance in the second language in the first three years be decisive in determining whether the pupil does primary education in six years or seven years? It has been announced that normal primary education will be seven years and that the majority of primary pupils will complete their education in seven years. But it has also been announced, as I have pointed out earlier, that about 40% of primary pupils will complete the primary education in six years. This cannot be regarded as an exception. And although it has been announced that corrective reassessment will be made at the end of Primary IV, parents generally will regard the assessment at the end of Primary III as crucial since they still see promise of a better future for their children through the OCE, the HSC and beyond. 3.00 p.m. Parents will regard the assessment at the end of Primary III as a more or less conclusive determination of their children's future, that is, whether they are blue collar or white collar workers. This being so, they expect the more able and experienced teachers to be assigned to teach in Primary Is, IIs and IIIs. Nor should these teachers be transferred before three years at least. I am sure that no relief teachers will be assigned to these classes in the future.”