I READ the report about the delay in the completion of the new junior college with great concern ("High-rise JC delayed by 'new LTA requirement'"; Sunday) with great concern, as I am a parent of a student who has been affected by this development.
The new JC's location has reportedly been "safeguarded for a future infrastructure project".
The report added that it is understood that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has set aside the area for possible transport projects and it should not be built on.
However, a report last year on the new JC stated that "the area is also zoned for an educational institution, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Draft Master Plan 2013" ("Bishan-Ang Mo Kio area to get new JC in 2017"; Jan 2, 2014).
If the land has been set aside for an educational institution, why is the LTA now coming in to impose new restrictions that will cause the delay in the completion of the JC?
Also, St Joseph's Institution's (SJI) upgrading works at its own campus have yet to start, as the tender has not been awarded.
This is unacceptable, as the school vacated its Malcolm Road site in December 2013.
Why has there been such a long delay in awarding the tender? Why was this allowed to happen, given that SJI's current holding site at the former Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Bishan campus had to be vacated by 2017 to allow the new JC to commence temporary operations there?
Why did the authorities not monitor progress more closely to ensure that the planned timeline was adhered to?
Students should not be penalised for the mistakes of adults.
They should not be made to start their JC life in a far-flung temporary site in Mount Sinai, when the plans had been to use a campus in Bishan.
The authorities need to take steps to resolve the situation.
First, ensure that upgrading works on SJI's Malcolm Road campus start immediately, so that the ITE Bishan premises can be handed over to the new JC in 2017.
Second, resolve the issue with the LTA so that the building of the new JC can commence as planned and be completed by 2018 as targeted.
Jonathan Goh Eng Swee
