Ong Pang Boon
Singapore
“At the same time, our shoulders should be broad enough to accept criticism and even admit mistakes if need be, and be prepared to make the necessary changes. This does not mean pandering to the baser instincts of the people.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry will certainly give every assistance to the villagers in clearing the debris, especially if they are left over by the contractors. I will appreciate if the Member can also let the Ministry know who are these contractors and we will prosecute them. CONSTRUCTION BRIGADE (Progress) 2.”
“The Ministry is now monitoring the results of the programme and is happy to note that there are some improvements in the cleanliness of our public toilets. It would prosecute managements of public toilets who fail to provide proper maintenance.”
“A comprehensive programme to monitor the air and sea environment in the vicinity of the Complex has been drawn up. Engineers and technicians from the Ministry and other departments have been sent for overseas training on the surveillance of petrochemical complexes.”
“The professional or other misconduct for the purposes of revocation must be of such a nature as to render, in the opinion of the Attorney-General, the notary public unfit to practise as such. This amendment is dealt with in clause 4 of the Bill.”
“All flats of the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) including those at Blair Plain are rented out to employees on monthly tenancies and are not provided as part of their terms and conditions of service. These flats are therefore not service quarters.”
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, I certainly agree with the Member for Kallang that the Workmen's Compensation Section should be strengthened. I am sure that when this matter comes up before this House again in the next budget, we can get the support of the Member for Kallang. Mr Speaker, Sir, about the mental cases I think that requires further consideration and consultation with the medical authorities. I am not saying that I will not agree to include mental illness in the Second Schedule, but I think this subject requires further consideration before a decision is made.”
“The Workmen's Compensation Act has been in force for a number of years and, to my knowledge, no cases have yet been reported of insurance companies disclaiming their liability. Nevertheless, the point has been made and we will keep that in mind. Should cases of this nature happen, we shall reconsider the provision of compulsory insurance and take appropriate steps. As I pointed out earlier, Mr Speaker, Sir, legislative measures alone cannot bring down the number of industrial accidents, unless there is strict enforcement of the law and greater consciousness of industrial safety among employers and employees. In this respect, 1 think the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore Employers' Federation as well as other public-spirited individuals can play a part in promoting industrial safety by giving the subject more publicity, so that the losses both to the economy of the country and the workers can be better appreciated. As far as the Labour Ministry is concerned, there is no doubt that the Factory Inspectorate, as it is now, is not only understaffed but also inexperienced. Take, for instance, the construction industry. It has the highest number of fatal accident cases, and yet in our Factory Inspectorate there is not a single civil engineer. We have, instead, mechanical engineers. To bring down the rate of industrial accidents may require effort on the part of everybody - the Government, the employers and the employees. When the Factories Act has been tightened up and strengthened, we will carry out an industrial safety campaign to drive the lesson home, and follow it up thereafter by strict enforcement.”
“It would be very difficult in practice to determine which hand is more habitually used than the other, and disputes are bound to arise over the interpretation of what is meant by "habitually used". It will be better if we leave this matter to those who are more qualified. For example, medical officers can prescribe a higher percentage of award in favour of the worker. In any case, the suggested amendment can only benefit a few workers who are employed in occupations where there is clear evidence that one hand is more habitually used than the other. I do not think that at this stage it is necessary to make that kind of amendment. The Member for Kallang has suggested that there should be yearly medical examinations. First of all, I cannot see in what way yearly medical examinations can prevent accidents from happening. Accidents simply happen, whether the workmen are medically examined yearly or not. What is needed is a more concerted effort to instil safety consciousness into the workers and the employers. Medical examinations can be useful only in certain industries, for example, the petroleum and chemical industries, where occupational diseases can be detected in their early stages. The provision of yearly or periodical medical examinations is feasible only in the bigger industries or establishments. The reasons are obvious. Not all employers can afford to offer such facilities to their workmen and occupational diseases are not found in all industries. Several Members have dwelt on the point of compulsory insurance and have expressed the fear that it is possible that the insurance companies may disclaim their liability because of some fault in the insurance policy taken up by the employer.”
“I think Members have been informed that to prevent this from happening, we have decided that a proviso be added to section 8 (3) (a) which will read as follows: `Where permanent total incapacity results from the injury, the amount of compensation shall be - (a) in the case of a workman who is eighteen years of age and above at the time of the accident, a lump sum of twenty-eight thousand eight hundred dollars or equal to sixty months' earnings, whichever is the less: Provided that the amount of compensation payable shall not be less than the amount to which his dependants, assuming that such dependants exist, would be entitled if death had resulted from the injury.' I think this will take care of the Member's concern. Mention has also been made of clause 15 relating to amendment of section 26 (2) of the Act. We do not think there is a need to amend this section as proposed, because any workman who thinks that he has been dismissed after objecting to an attempt by his employer to avoid liability could be adequately looked after by invoking the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, in particular subsection (2) of section 35 thereof. Mention has also been made of clause 17 relating to the amendment to the First Schedule of the Act. Again. I think we cannot agree that the amount of compensation payable to cases of hand injuries should be governed by the consideration whether the hand is habitually used. The reasons are: (1) The adoption of a single scale makes for smooth administration. (2) In all occupations, workers are required to use and do use both their hands, although there may be some difference in the degree of such use between one hand and the other.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am very much cheered by the keen interest shown by Members on this subject of workmen's compensation. When the time comes for action to be taken against the people concerned, 1 can be assured of their support. The criticism of the Member for Paya Lebar is that I dwelt mainly on the quantum of compensation and not on the basic issue of industrial safety. However, I wish to remind him that we are now dealing with the Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill and not the Factories Act. But as I pointed out earlier, I am proposing to introduce extensive amendments to the Factories Act and, when the amendment Bill is ready, I am sure the Member for Paya Lebar will have another opportunity to air his views. I shall now deal with the various points raised by the Members for Kallang, Toa Payoh and Jalan Kayu. As I pointed out earlier, the proposed Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill was circulated to the National Trades Union Congress for its comments. Some of its suggestions have been accepted and incorporated in the present amendment Bill, while others for various reasons have not been accepted. And what Members have raised today refers mainly to those suggestions that have not been accepted by the Ministry. The point has been made that in clause 6 - section 8 (3) (a) - anomalies may arise and the dependants of a deceased workman may be better off than those of a permanently and totally incapacitated workman.”
“Even in the odd instances where employers had provided helmets and safety belts in construction projects and factories, it was found that the workers were not willing to make use of them, In our urgent drive to industrialise rapidly to provide jobs for the unemployed whose number was augmented by those retrenched from the British bases, and, in the long run, to build up a strong and viable economy capable of self-sustaining growth thereby ensuring a rising standard of living, the Government has had to be content with what rudimentary devices the employers are prepared to install. It may be said that some loss in human assets is inevitable irs the present stage of industrialisation. Nonetheless, the number of serious accidents is unnecessarily high, particularly when about the only valuable asset we have is human resources. I would therefore urge both employers and employees to be more safety conscious and exert more discipline in ensuring that safety regulations are scrupulously observed. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 4.05 p.m.”
“In this connection, medical boards and panels will be established to determine matters relating to medical evidence. Mr Speaker, Sir, in drafting the Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill, we have also considered the views and comments of the Singapore Employers Federation, the National Trades Union Congress, the General Insurance Association as well as those expressed by Members earlier in this House. Employers will, as a result, be required to take out compulsory insurance at a higher premium. However, insurance companies will, no doubt, offer rebates for no accidents or low-accident records and this will be an incentive to management to provide a healthier and safer working environment for their employees. Hence, the additional premium can be offset in the long run against less accidents, better productivity and profits. Mr Speaker, Sir, the amendment Bill is only one of a series of legislation to encourage more safety consciousness among employers and employees. However, these legislative measures in themselves will not be completely effective in reducing industrial accidents if the employers and employees do not co-operate whole -heartedly. Hitherto, most employers and employees have paid scant regard to the safety and well-being of labour. In their desire to maximise profits, employers tend to neglect the need to provide the minimum requirements for safety of their workers. Some unions themselves appear to be preoccupied with bargaining for more dollars and cents to the exclusion of safeguarding the lives and limbs of their members.”
“Clause 7 of the Bill increases these minimum wages from $80 to $120 if the workman is 18 years of age and above, from $65 to $105 where he is 16 years and above but below 18 years of age, and from $45 to $90 where he is below 16 years of age. This amendment will, therefore, increase the quantum of compensation due to any workman so affected. Also, to ensure that the interests of `the workers are adequately covered and protected, subsection (1) of section 26 `of the Ordinance is being amended by clause 15 of the Bill to provide for compulsory insurance against the employer's liability under this Ordinance. However, power is given to the Minister to exempt employers from this requirement. Mr Speaker, Sir, the First Schedule to the Ordinance is also being amended by clause 17 to provide a more comprehensive and definitive list of injuries which result in permanent incapacity and to clearly specify the corresponding percentage of loss of earning capacity. This amendment will facilitate the task of the medical officers in recommending the quantum of award to be given in respect of industrial injuries. Another important amendment is effected by clause 18 of the Bill which seeks to add silicosis and asbestosis to the list of occupational diseases specified in the Second Schedule to the Ordinance. One immediate effect of this amendment is that workers who are engaged in occupations involving exposure to asbestos dust or fine particles of silica generated by industrial processes, for example, granite crushing, sand blasting, kaolin grinding and ceramic works, will be eligible for compensation under the Ordinance if, as a result of their occupation, they contract the disease of asbestosis or silicosis.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the most important amendment to the Ordinance relates to the quantum of workmen's compensation. I would like to stress that the Ordinance is an essential piece of legislation which assures the workers that, in the event of accidents arising out of or in the course of employment, they or members of their families would be compensated financially. The compensation payable is related to the earning capacity of the person concerned. The compensation payable under the existing Ordinance has become inadequate. When it was fixed in 1955, the average monthly wage of a workman 18 years of age and above was $160 as compared with $197 for July 1970. Although the average wage rate has increased, the maximum compensation payable has remained static. Besides, the purchasing power of the dollar has decreased to some extent during this period. In view of this, clause 6 of the Bill will increase the maximum compensation prescribed under section 8 of the Ordinance to three times their present amounts, that is, from $7,200 to $21,600 for fatal cases, from $9,600 to $28,800 in cases resulting in permanent total incapacity, and from $65 to $195 for every 15 days in cases resulting in temporary incapacity. In order that the workmen or their dependants will in fact obtain increased compensation, the multiplying factors for computing compensation have also been raised considerably. Moreover, provision is made to ensure that in fatal cases, the minimum amount of compensation payable shall not be less than the present maximum of $7,200. Where the earnings of a workman cannot be determined, the minimum wages are fixed by section 9 of the Ordinance for the purpose of computing the amount of compensation.”
“Although we cannot completely prevent accidents from happening, it is possible, through education of the employers and employees, coupled with strict enforcement of minimum safety measures and enhanced rates of compensation, to arrest the upward trend of industrial accidents. The recent promulgation of the Building Operations and Works of Engineering Construction Regulations, 1971, is the first of many such safety regulations to be introduced to provide safety guidelines to employers and employees. Extensive amendments to the Factories Act are being drafted to provide for a higher standard of industrial health and safety and to give more teeth to the Factory Inspectorate. The Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill will have the effect of compelling the employers to pay more attention to the safety of their workers, while at the same time providing a greater amount of compensation to alleviate the sufferings of those unfortunate victims and their immediate families. The main provisions of this amendment Bill are detailed in the Explanatory Statement to the Bill. I would like, however, to draw attention to some of the more important changes. Firstly, clause 2 of the Bill seeks to amend the proviso to subsection (1) of section 2 of the Ordinance and to extend the scope of the Ordinance to cover non-manual workers who earn up to $750 per month as against $400 per month at present. This is a logical sequel to the Employment Act, 1968, which covers all employees, other than those belonging to certain excepted categories, who are earning less than $750 per month. Clause 2 of the Bill will also bring all non-manual Government employees earning less than $750 per month within the ambit of the Ordinance, many of them for the first time.”
“According to statistics compiled by my Ministry, there were 9,682 accidents reported under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance for the year 1970 as compared with 8,714 for 1969, that is, an increase of 11 per cent. Of these, 159 were fatal and 866 resulted in permanent disablement as against 132 fatal cases and 731 permanent disablement cases for 1969. As a matter of fact, the total number of accidents reported under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance has been steadily increasing from 7,850 cases in 1964 to 9,682 for last year. In 1970, a total of 302,800 man-days were lost in factories alone as a result of accidents compared with 202,876 man-days lost for 1969. In terms of workmen's compensation, the amount paid in 1970 was $1,611,504, which is approximately three times the figure for 1960. Mr Speaker, Sir, monetary compensation paid out to workers or their immediate families is only a part of the cost to the country arising out of accidents. There are other costs involved, such as cost of wages paid for working time lost, medical costs borne by the employers and the Government, cost of `damage to the premises or machines in the case of fire, costs of education and vocational or industrial training which could amount to several millions of dollars. Based on the 1969 rates, it has been estimated that the financial loss to the industrial economy was almost $23 million in that year. It can thus be seen that, apart from the sufferings of the persons concerned as well as the anxiety and hardship caused to members of their immediate family, relatives and friends, industrial accidents are costly to the economy of the Republic. Obviously, no responsible government can afford to sit tight and watch the situation deteriorating.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, the present Workmen's Compensation Ordinance was enacted in 1955, that is, about 16 years ago. Since then, we have progressed from a colony depending principally upon entrepot trade for our livelihood to a sovereign and independent nation with industrial activities assuming an increasingly dominant role in our national economy In striving for rapid industrialisation, we have encountered many problems, including that of a shortage of skilled and semi-skilled labour, the need to upgrade the skills of our workers as well as introducing them to new skills to meet the demands of higher and more sophisticated technology. We are, however, not deterred by the immensity of the problem. On the contrary, we have taken various concrete steps to overcome it. On a short-term basis, we have embarked upon crash training programmes as well as adopting a more liberal immigration policy to attract the entry of foreign skilled labour into Singapore. As a long-term measure, we have restructured our educational system so as to give technical and vocational education the proper emphasis and recognition demanded by our current industrial and economic policies. We firmly believe that ultimately we must be in a position to supply the skills required by our own industries instead of having to depend largely upon immigrant skills. Mr Speaker, Sir, it grieves me to say that, despite the fact that skilled labour is one of our most important assets, insufficient efforts have been made to ensure that there is no unnecessary wastage of labour through accidents. This careless and irresponsible attitude is reflected in the upward trend in industrial accidents.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have the facts regarding the citizenship status of the seven cases which were rejected on security grounds. But I can supply the information to the Member for Crawford in due course. The grounds for the introduction of the Certificates of Suitability are still valid in spite of the political stability of our state. Maybe the relatively peaceful conditions that are prevailing in our universities is, in large measure, due to the existence of the Certificate of Suitability requirement. PRE-UNIVERSITY CLASSES IN MALAY SCHOOLS (Sufficient number from 1971) 7. Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap asked the Minister for Education if his Ministry is satisfied that the number of pre-university classes in Malay schools will be sufficient to meet the demands as from 1971. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Inche Mohd. Ghazali Bin Ismail) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, admission to our pre-university classes in all language streams is based upon the applicants' performance in the relevant public examination for Secondary 4 pupils as well as their extra-curricular activities. According to our estimates, sufficient places will be available in and after 1971 for all candidates who possess the requisite qualifications for admission to pre-university classes in the Malay stream.”
“Furthermore, the number of students that can be admitted to an institution of higher learning depends on a number of factors, such as accommodation, staffing and finance, which in turn depend on the economy of the country and its manpower requirements. There can, therefore, be no inherent right to higher education for anybody. Nevertheless, the "students' inherent right to higher education" is a stirring slogan which is often used by politicians and political parties in their struggle for political power. However, once power is seized, no party ever honours it, whether it be in a western democracy or a Communist state, for the simple reason that it is only an empty, albeit catching, slogan. In a recent sitting of Parliament, the Member for Crawford made a pertinent point that the days of slogan shouting were over. I am afraid the so-called "students' inherent right to higher education" is precisely the type of empty and meaningless slogan shouting so deplored by the Member for Crawford.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, up to 24th July, 1970, a total of 13,311 applications for Certificates of Suitability had been received. Breakdown figures by institutions of higher learning are not kept, as most applicants apply for admission to more than one institution in a single application. Only seven cases out of a total of 13,311 applications, or 0.053 per cent, were rejected on security grounds. The number of certificates granted and subsequently withdrawn is nil. The requirement of the Certificate of Suitability under the provisions of the Internal Security Act is to ensure that institutions of higher learning are not turned into a hotbed of subversive political activities which are not conducive to the pursuit of knowledge. As explained by the Minister of Defence in a press statement issued in March 1967, the Government adopted this requirement with two objectives in mind. The first was to prevent a high concentration of Communist-indoctrinated students collecting together in a tertiary institution with the intention of not only controlling the students' activities, but also intimidating the teaching staff and in the end taking over the running of the institution. The second purpose was to deter students from getting mixed up in Communist United Front activities. I would, however, like to make an observation on the so-called "students' inherent right to higher education". The primary consideration for admission to a higher institution of learning is the possession of academic standards acceptable to the institution concerned. This implies that not all students who seek admission can be admitted even though they may have the minimum qualifications.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, aided-school teachers are members of the Central Provident Fund. The Government makes a monthly C.P.F, contribution at the rate of eight per cent of the officer's total emoluments. The rate of contribution will eventually be raised to 10 per cent. On retirement, the aided-school teacher receives his C.P.F, benefits instead of a gratuity and pension payable to a retired Government teacher. Aided-school teachers who leave the service prior to their retirement age are allowed to retain the Government's share of the C.P.F, contributions. With the recent increases in the rate of Government C.P.F, contributions to the present eight per cent (with expectation of an eventual rise to 10 per cent), aided-school teachers on retirement receive a reasonable sum of money by way of superannuation benefits, if in addition to C.P.F, contributions, a gratuity is given to aided-school teachers, their superannuation benefits will be much more than the super-annuation benefits of Government teachers.”
“Sir, if it is a question of dismissal by the Public Service Commission, then, as far as I am aware, none of them has been reinstated. GOVERNMENT-AIDED SCHOOL TEACHERS (Payment of gratuity on retirement) 5. Mr Tay Boon Too asked the Minister for Education if the Government will consider the payment of a gratuity to a teacher of a Government-aided school on retirement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as I am aware, there were 11 cases of dismissals. I do not think there is any case of reinstatement.”
“Sir, I do not have the figure with me, but if the Member wants it, I can supply it to him later.”
“Another sum of $220,000 for a similar purpose is included in the Government contribution of $3.5 million this year. With the installation of ten additional exhaust-fans and numerous wall-fans early last year, the ventilation of the auditorium has improved and it is tolerable under normal conditions. The University authorities are now considering improving the ventilation of the stage. The Hokkien Huay Kuan contributed $100,000 in 1968 for the improvement of the auditorium.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry has supported the setting up of a College for Post-Graduate Studies because it will provide proper research facilities for the staff. Only a small establishment will be required because research will be done by the academic staff from other departments who will be attached to the college as Senior Fellows or Fellows. The number of post-graduate students is expected to be small, and admission will be very selective. A sum of $46,000 has been included in the $3.5 million Government contribution to Nanyang University for this purpose. This will cover the honoraria for the Dean of the college, for the four heads of the institute, and remuneration for technical and general staff. As far as capital development of the College of Post-Graduate Studies is concerned, it will be carried out in two phases, and a sum of $1.2 million is required. So far, Nanyang University has raised $300,000 for the first phase. Meanwhile the University has asked Government for a dollar-for-dollar grant. It has always been the accepted policy of Nanyang University, since reorganisation began over five and a half years ago, to build up a corps of local academic staff so that the University can be fully developed to fulfil its role as a national university. What Nanyang University will become in the years ahead depends largely on the calibre of the academic staff. This policy has not been changed. I am sure that the administrators of Nanyang University are implementing this policy with understanding and vigour. In last year's Estimates, Government provided $3.89 million to Nanyang University. This grant included a sum of $220,000 for repairs and renovation to student hostels and staff quarters, including replacement of furniture.”
“With no funds being made available to us, and as there has been no substantial building of new Housing and Development Board flats in the Tiong Bahru area, there are no immediate plans for the building of primary schools in that constituency. However, Mr Speaker, Sir, a 10-storey primary school with an enrolment capacity of 2,800 is now being built in Chin Swee Road in Havelock Constituency to replace two very old schools, Sepoy Lines Malay School and Pearl's Hill School. They will soon have to be demolished to give way to urban renewal.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not true that the Government has not properly planned its school building programme to cater for the new housing estates that are springing up all over Singapore. It is a case of financial stringency rather than poor planning. In fact, in many of the new Housing Board estates, school sites have been reserved but we have not been able to build schools because of financial reasons. There are enough school places in Singapore to cater for all children of school-going age. The problem is that there have been such a lot of population movements from the centre of the city to the new Housing Board estates that the schools in the centre of the city have vacancies, whereas in the Housing Board estates there are children of school-going age but no schools. I am afraid this problem will persist for quite a long time to come unless funds are available. As I said just now, in view of the financial stringency which my Ministry is required to exercise, new primary schools will only be built in areas where there is very extensive resettlement or the building of new flats by the Housing and Development Board or where replacement schools have to be provided because of urban renewal. Members of the House are no doubt aware of the very small provision allocated for the development of new primary schools in this year's estimates. The provision is sufficient for the construction of only one primary school, which is now being built in MacPherson Housing Estate where an acute shortage of primary school places is being experienced largely because of intensive building by the Housing and Development Board in this area during the last couple of years.”
“I am not sure whether the Member has finished asking what he wants to ask.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is nothing for me to reply. I think the Member for Jurong was praising the Government's decision to allocate a sum of $700,000 for the construction of a sports complex.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member should have spoken on the item "Grants to higher education" as appeared in the Ordinary Estimates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at the moment we are looking for a suitable site for this centre. When it is available, further publicity will be given to this project. The Member for Mountbatten will then be duly informed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Popular Science Centre project has been quite adequately explained by my colleague. I do not think there is any need for me to add to his explanation.”
“I think at the moment there are two teachers attached to the National Museum.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, following the Government's decision in 1968 to convert the museum into a natural history museum, it was decided that the reorganisation be held in abeyance pending the recommendations and costing by a U.N.E.S.C.O. expert for whose services the Ministry of Science and Technology had requested. The expert, Mr James Gardner, a designer, arrived in late January 1970 for a short stay of ten days. He advised that the present taxonomic arrangement was out of date and that, instead, the approach should be one that would lend itself to lively presentation. He recommended that a far greater sum of money than the amount provided for is required for the reorganisation. He recommended to the Museum Board and the Minister for Science and Technology that a pilot project be implemented. The pilot project, which will set the trend for future reorganisation of the museum, will depict the ecology of a tropical rain forest. It will cover about 5,000 square feet and will cost about $300,000. Action has been taken with Mr Gardner, now in London, for the preparation of a new brief with detailed costing for submission to the Ministry of Finance. As for equipment, we are now awaiting detailed costing of the items from Mr Gardner. The items will include modern show-cases with internal light fittings for all the exhibits pertaining to the rain forest. The exhibits will comprise insects, large and small mammals and birds, as well as fabricated interiors of the various habitats these animals occupy. Last year, 304,000 persons, the majority of whom are students, visited the museum as against 342,000 in 1968. However, for the first two months in 1970, a record number of 221,000 persons visited it. Arrangements are being made for school children to visit it on conducted tours.”
“Such requests are attended to immediately, and water is supplied as soon as the number of households requiring water is ascertained.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since 1959 the Government has built 55 primary and 56 secondary schools, and one junior college. All Government schools are provided with playgrounds, but the size of these playgrounds varies, depending on the availability of land. In the past years it has become increasingly difficult to secure school sites in or near to the heart of the city big enough to provide adequate playing fields. Where such grounds are not quite adequate, the schools concerned are encouraged to share other school playing fields in the neighbourhood or to use public open spaces and sporting amenities belonging to community centres. On the whole, the provision of grounds for sports and games in schools is quite adequate. Over the past three or four years, several cracks have developed in some parts of the ground floors of five schools as a result of the sinking floors. However, these occurred only in schools built on low-lying sites that had been filled. Remedial action has been taken by the Public Works Department to reinforce the concrete ground floors in these five schools. RURAL AREAS (Applications for free water supply) 2. Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Law and National Development (a) what are the procedures in respect of an application for free water supply to rural areas, where water-mains are not available, during a drought; and (b) how long it will take for such an application to be considered. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law and National Development (National Development Division) (Mr Ho Cheng Choon) (for the Minister for Law and National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, all requests for the supply of drinking water can be made orally or in writing to the Chairman, Secretary, or District Secretaries of the Urban and Rural Services Committee.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, all graduate teachers will be trained. In fact, all graduates recruited as teachers are attending an in-service course at the Teachers' Training College.”
“Mr Speaker, the graduates who are recruited direct from the Universities have to undergo a one-year training programme at the Teachers' Training College conducted jointly by the University of Singapore and the Teachers' Training College which will lead to the award of a Diploma in Education. So I do not know what the Member for Anson is talking about.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, extra-curricular activities are mainly conducted outside the school time-table. But there are times when it is not possible to do so, especially when particular schools are chosen to take part in a youth festival or the national parade. In such cases, students will have to go through many rehearsals. To do so outside school hours may not be possible at times. Occasionally, these rehearsals have to impinge on the school time-table to give the students the required number of practices.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not true that inspectors do not offer advice to teachers in respect of professional matters. I do not think the relationship can be improved if the designation is changed, as suggested by the Member, which is Hsih Tau Yen. The position will remain the same, because the inspector has to perform the same duties.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Member for Paya Lebar seriously believe that if we change the term "inspector" to, let us say, "adviser", the whole teacher/inspector relationship will change?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Paya Lebar complains that we are still using the colonial term "inspectors", and that they are not fulfilling their role. I have outlined the duties of inspectors only a few minutes ago, and I do not wish to repeat them. There is no advantage in changing the term "inspector" to some other name, as the duties of the inspectors remain unchanged. The Ministry of Education is not the only Ministry to use this term, which has been used in the last half century. In the Police Force, this term is still being used and no one seems to complain that "Inspector of Police" is a colonial term and should be changed. I think what is important is that the relationship between teacher and inspector should be improved. The inspector should be respected rather than feared. With the general improvement in the quality of teaching and, as I have said, as our inspectors gain experience, a better relationship could be achieved. The Member for Paya Lebar is aware that inspectors are drawn from the rank and file of the teaching service. Therefore, one would expect that teachers, on being promoted to inspectors, would be very sympathetic to their former colleagues.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have not seen the attendance books kept by the form masters in schools. I am afraid I am not able to answer him quite categorically whether such attendance books need be kept. Obviously, there is a need for keeping attendance books, but whether they should be simplified further is a moot point. I shall look into the problem. As for the Teachers' Union's complaint that they have been ignored and not consulted in all major innovations by the Ministry of Education, I sympathize with the Member for Jurong in this respect. The blame partly probably lies at the doorstep of the Teachers' Union for not making themselves more active in educational matters, and I think there is a singular lack of interest among the teachers in their own union. Mr Tay Boon Too(In Mandarin): In view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the establishment of a Chinese Language Centre has been under consideration for some time now. A committee was appointed early last year to look into this problem. I think it has finished its deliberations and a draft constitution has been drawn up. It is now awaiting the approval of the Ministry of Finance.”
“Sir, as I have said just now, the current thinking is to build more junior colleges. Possibly we need half a dozen or even more junior colleges. The post of principals of these junior colleges will be superscale posts, and I am sure the Member for Telok Blangah will be happy to hear this. 4.00 p.m. Mr Speaker, Sir, the superscale posts are held by officers who deserve the posts. Whether they are in charge of secondary schools or whether the schools are premier schools, promotion actually depends very much upon the quality of the officers concerned.”
“That is quite true. But I think one should take the performance of the whole school into consideration and not individual students.”
“Sir, I can only presume that it is so. Last week, when the School Certificate results were announced, I think Raffles Institution again topped the list for all secondary schools in Singapore by producing the best results.”
“Only principals are vested with the authority to administer it. If a teacher is found guilty of administering it without the permission of the principal concerned, far from getting himself transferred to English schools, he may find himself out of a job. Coming to the Member for Tiong Bahru's question, the posts of Principal of Raffles Institution and Principal of Raffles Girls' School have traditionally been superscale posts among Government English schools. The two schools, which have a long and outstanding record of achievements, are generally accepted as being among the premier schools in the Republic. As the number of promotion posts in the education service is small compared to the strength of the service, it is desirable to retain these two superscale posts as senior promotion posts for members of this service. There is no intention of converting these two schools into junior colleges. The current thinking is that we should build half a dozen or more junior colleges to absorb all pre-university students now studying in various secondary schools.”
“The conditions of selling are laid down in individual tuck-shop agreements signed by the stall-holders at the beginning of the year or at the time when they take up the stalls. All cases of varying of conditions of selling are sympathetically and carefully considered and decided by the school's tuck-shop committees of the respective schools in the first instance. Should the stall-holder feel unhappy about the decision of the school tuck-shop committee, he can appeal to the Tuck-shop Standing Committee of the Ministry of Education. His whole case will then be carefully reviewed by the Tuck-shop Standing Committee and I am sure in most cases the decision will be a reasonable one. The Member for Thomson has complained that certain second-language teachers are unco-operative and inflict corporal punishment on the students with a view to getting themselves transferred back to the English medium schools. I am quite aware that there are second-language teachers who are unhappy in Chinese medium schools. I think it is understandable, because the Chinese medium schools are a new environment and probably quite strange to the English language teacher. Until now, they have only one subject to teach, and that is English. As such, their duties become very monotonous and onerous. However, with the introduction of English as the medium of instruction in certain subjects in non-English schools, I am sure the second-language teachers will now no longer find their duties so monotonous. If the Member for Thomson can bring up instances of teachers who have administered corporal punishment with the motive of getting themselves transferred, I am sure we will deal with them quite firmly. For his information, corporal punishment is prohibited.”
“We have recruited about 1,000 students in February and have already advertised to take in another 1,000 in May 1970. The Member for Sembawang has also mentioned that there are no special classes organised by the Adult Education Board in his constituency. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Adult Education Board conducts special classes for Primary Six leavers in the day time in the following centres: Kim Keat Vocational School Centre; Mountbatten Vocational School Centre; Bukit Batok Vocational School Centre; Parry Avenue Vocational School Centre; and Hai Sing Dewasa Institute. Special classes in the rural areas are now conducted during the day by the Board in Parry Avenue and Bukit Batok Vocational School Centres. The Board's Parry Avenue Vocational School Centre caters for students in the Yio Chu Kang, Punggol, Sembawang and Tampines areas. The Bukit Batok Vocational School Centre caters for students in the Jurong, Choa Chu Kang and Upper Bukit Timah areas. So it is not true to say that the Board has not organised special classes for Primary Six leavers in the rural areas. However, the Board will be prepared to conduct these special classes in any other rural areas provided facilities are available and student numbers warrant the opening of such classes. If the Member for Sembawang can gather a sufficient number of Primary Six leavers in his constituency to one particular centre, I am sure the Adult Education Board will be only too pleased to look into the feasibility of starting a class there. As for tuck-shops in schools, the rental includes public utility charges for water and lighting. These charges have now gone up as a result of the 10 per cent tax and, therefore, there is no likelihood of lowering the rental of school stalls.”
“However, when it comes to the Secondary school level, History will be taught in the second language by teachers with the necessary background. Admittedly there is room for improvement, and bilingualism in schools is no exception. Active measures have been and are being taken to meet any anticipated difficulty and to remedy any known deficiency so that bilingualism will be achieved. These measures include the following: The objective evaluation of the curricula, textbooks and methods of teaching. Several schools have been chosen as experimental schools to devise improved methods of teaching Mathematics, Science and English where English is the second language. A committee has been formed to make a careful study of the content and vocabulary of the textbook in History for Primary schools as well as the difficulties encountered by teachers and pupils. A Director of Research was appointed early last year, and one of her duties is to look into all these questions, quite apart from educational research. She has gathered around her half a dozen educationists who have had training in research and methodology. I am sure that in the course of the next few years some positive results will come out of it. 3.45 p.m. The Member for Sembawang has mentioned just now that our vocational institutions could enrol only about 1,000 students and that it would possibly take more than 30 years before we could achieve the target of 35,000 technical personnel a year. I do not know where he got his information from. I am sure he has been misinformed. The Ministry proposes to recruit 3,000 to 4,000 students for the industrial courses this year. The intake of students will be undertaken in four phases annually.”
“It was for this reason and the need to make some drastic changes that we have decided to introduce a second language as a medium of instruction in certain subjects in the Primary schools. Bilingualism in schools is being implemented in gradual stages as far as academic subjects are concerned. For instance, the teaching of Mathematics in non-English schools through the medium of English began in 1968 for Primary one classes in all the Government Chinese Primary schools and some aided schools as well. It was extended to Primary II in 1969 and Primary III in 1970. History taught through the medium of a second language was introduced in the English medium schools early this year in Primary III and will be extended to the higher classes by yearly stages. This gradual implementation of the scheme will obviate undue hardship on the part of pupils and teachers. As regards the adequacy of teachers for implementing the bilingual education policy, several in-service courses have been organised to train second-language teachers. An English language course for non-English medium teachers of Mathematics and Science has also been conducted. In addition, seminars on the teaching of Civics have been held and one on the teaching of History is being organised. Primary school teachers are normally non-specialists who have been trained to teach a variety of subjects. As language teachers are also general teachers, they are able to teach other Primary school subjects as well as language. Those who have additional training in the teaching of a second language are not necessarily incapable of teaching such subjects as History or Civics which do not need specialised knowledge at the Primary school level.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Paya Lebar has touched on the question of bilingualism in schools and the use of the second language as a medium of instruction in certain subjects. He says further that proper consideration should be given to this matter before its implementation. The question of bilingualism has been taxing the minds of many people for a long time. Ours is a multi-racial and multi-lingual society. Everybody is aware of the importance of knowing more than one language in our society. The Member for Paya Lebar probably comes from a Chinese school and I am sure he is aware that English has always been the second language in the Chinese schools for the last 30 or 40 years. From his personal experience, I am sure he will agree with me that it has been a complete failure. Most of the graduates from the Chinese schools, probably with a few exceptions, have not been able to make use of English, particularly in conversation, although they have been studying it as a second language for more than ten years in school. Obviously this situation cannot be perpetuated and something drastic has to be done quickly. From experience and also from observations made, it has been found that if a second language is learnt while at an early age, it will not be as difficult to master as when one begins to study it at, say, after the primary stage. If the Member for Paya Lebar will remember, Professor Haliday, who was a linguist, came to Singapore last year and gave a few lectures at the Teachers' Training College. He made the point that to master a language well, one has to start at a very young age in fact, as early as possible.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my criticism was that the course for the training of kindergarten teachers had not started earlier and expanded to the scale that I would like to see it expanded. In fact, I shall be pursuing quite energetically this question of training kindergarten teachers in the next few months. Madam Chan Choy Siong: Mr Speaker. Sir, I beg to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”