§ 2. Mr. Turnerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the number of Chinese middle schools in Sarawak and the number in receipt of grant-in-aid.
§ Mr. MaudlingThere are sixteen Chinese middle schools of which eleven are in receipt of grants-in-aid.
§ Mr. TurnerIs my right hon. Friend aware that the refusal of the management boards of these few Chinese middle schools not receiving grants-in-aid to come into the conversion scheme is acting considerably to the detriment not only of the children themselves but of the teachers who had to accept a reduction in pay? What is my right hon. Friend doing to encourage these few remaining schools to come into the scheme?
§ Mr. MaudlingI understand that these schools stayed out or went out of the scheme because they would not accept the new policy about the use of English as a common medium of instruction. They were closed for a time, but now they are all open again. If at any time they agree to adopt the policy they will be eligible for assistance.