Update on Plans for Primary Schools in Buangkok

25 Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Education whether he can provide an update on plans to build and operate a Primary school on the parcel of land gazetted for a Primary school in Buangkok housing estate in light of there being 22 new blocks of flats and four new pre-school centres in the estate and the demand for Primary school places being likely to increase for this estate.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: MOE's school planning takes into account housing development programmes and projected population in the residential area, to ensure that there are sufficient school places to meet the demand of families with school-going children.

For the Buangkok housing estate, MOE is aware of the recently completed and impending new housing developments. There are currently six Primary schools within 1 km and another 10 Primary schools within 2 km of the Buangkok housing estate. The 16 schools have sufficient capacity to meet the projected demand from residents. Specifically, at the end of Phase 2C of the recent Primary 1 registration exercises, there were about 270 vacancies in the schools within 1 km and another 315 vacancies in the schools within 2 km of the Buangkok estate.

MOE will continue to monitor the demand and supply situation of the Primary schools in this area closely. We will also make the necessary adjustments to meet the demand for school places in the area. If required, we can consider opening more school places in some of the existing schools near Buangkok estate.