Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing Schools (PRIME)

Mr Yee Jenn Jong asked the Minister for Education with regard to the Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing Schools (PRIME) (a) how many schools have yet to commence on PRIME; and (b) when will Junior Colleges be scheduled for PRIME.

Mdm Speaker, most schools that need to be upgraded under PRIME have been completed or are in progress of upgrading. Only 19 schools have yet to undergo PRIME. They will be phased based on the availability of suitable holding sites.

Junior Colleges (JCs) were upgraded under a separate JC upgrading programme from 1998 to 2005. Their infrastructural requirements are reviewed regularly by MOE.

Mdm Speaker, just two supplementary questions. First, I need to declare that I am on the Advisory Board of a Junior College, although that PQ is not specific to any school in particular. The first question is that PRIME is into its 14th year. What are MOE's plans for the schools that are in the first phase of PRIME, which means that they are about 14 years old now? Are there any plans for the next cycle of PRIME, that is, PRIME 2, after all schools have finished and when? The next supplementary is: some of the older JCs have taken on the Integrated Programme but they have not gone for any upgrading. Is there any impact on the facilities or the lack of these on the operations of the schools?

Madam, as I have said in my reply, we always review the infrastructural needs of schools regularly. So, the needs of the schools and JCs will be taken into consideration. The programmes that JCs and schools organise are also taken into consideration in our planning for enhanced facilities.