EDUN N25-02-004

07699

21 Dec 99

Committee to Study Compulsory Education

1. A Committee chaired by Dr Aline Wong, Senior Minister of State (Education), has been set up to study the issues on compulsory education. The list of committee members is given in  Annex A and the terms of reference of the committee in  Annex B. The Committee expects to complete its study in the second half of 2000.

2. The Committee, through the Feedback Unit, will be organising sessions to gather the views of the different communities on compulsory education from mid-January 2000 onwards. Members of the public are also welcome to give their views in writing to

Public Affairs Division
Ministry of Education
Kay Siang Road
Singapore 248922

or through the Ministry of Education’s web-site at

http://www1.moe.edu.sg/feedback.htm

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Annex A

Committee on Compulsory Education

Chairman
Dr Aline Wong                      Senior Minister of State (Education)

Deputy Chairman
Dr Wang Kai Yuen               Member of Parliament and Chairman, GPC for Education

Members
Mr Seng Han Thong           Member of Parliament

Mr Hawazi Daipi                 Member of Parliament and Member, GPC for Education

Mr R Ravindran                  Member of Parliament

Dr Jennifer Lee                  Nominated Member of Parliament

Mr Liew Mun Leong            President, Pidemco Land Limited and Chairman, Board of Governors, Temasek Polytechnic

Mr Sumardi Ali                   CEO, Mendaki

Mr Eugene Wijeysingha       Retired educationist

Mr Wee Heng Tin               Director-General of Education, Ministry of Education

Mrs Tan Ching Yee             Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Education

Ms Yeoh Chee Yan             Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Community Development

Mdm Lee Lai Yong              Principal, Rulang Primary School

Mr Gan Chin Huat               Principal, Dunman Secondary School

  Annex B

Terms of Reference of the Committee on Compulsory Education

The terms of reference of the Committee on Compulsory Education are:

"To recommend whether compulsory education should be introduced in Singapore, and if introduced, what form and duration it should take. In doing so, the Committee will examine:

a. how implementing compulsory education could contribute to achieving the two key objectives of education in national schools:

        i. First, to give our children a common core of knowledge which will provide a strong foundation for further education and training that will prepare them for a knowledge based economy; and

        ii. Second, to give our children a common educational experience which will help to build national identity and cohesion;

b. the appropriate balance of responsibility between parents and the state for ensuring that children attend school;

c. the views of different communities on CE;

d. the required framework for enforcing CE; and

e. the experience of other countries which have introduced CE."

In conducting the study, the Committee will seek the views of the different communities.