Opinions of the Primary School Registration System
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Agreed!
These are the people who wants the best of both world. Benefits from their home country and also here in Singapore. The PRs in my office refuse to take up citizenship as they felt that they are already sharing the same benefits as Spore citizen anyway. These PRs are the old birds in my company. Stay more than 20 yrs in Singapore. They say since they are not applying for HDB flats, they do not need to convert to citizens since the condo they bought is priced the same for PR or citizens.
One of them has 2 sons in ACS. The younger son despite being a non citizen, he got in under Phase 1 as the elder brother is already in the school.
In fact, I think the citizens over PR priority should be applied throughout the registration.
A PR who volunteered and stayed >2km who get in via Phase 2B will still have priority over a citizen staying within 1Km from the school who apply in Phase 2C.
Likewise for PR in Phase 2A or Phase 1, they will still take up the place before us, even if we stay right next to the school! -
Karl12:
:goodpost:Agreed!
........
One of them has 2 sons in ACS. The younger son despite being a non citizen, he got in under Phase 1 as the elder brother is already in the school.
In fact, I think the citizens over PR priority should be applied throughout the registration.
A PR who volunteered and stayed >2km who get in via Phase 2B will still have priority over a citizen staying within 1Km from the school who apply in Phase 2C.
Likewise for PR in Phase 2A or Phase 1, they will still take up the place before us, even if we stay right next to the school! -
Phase 2C:
Errr....no.
:goodpost:Karl12:
Agreed!
........
One of them has 2 sons in ACS. The younger son despite being a non citizen, he got in under Phase 1 as the elder brother is already in the school.
In fact, I think the citizens over PR priority should be applied throughout the registration.
A PR who volunteered and stayed >2km who get in via Phase 2B will still have priority over a citizen staying within 1Km from the school who apply in Phase 2C.
Likewise for PR in Phase 2A or Phase 1, they will still take up the place before us, even if we stay right next to the school! -
Focusing on foreigners is wrongful because:
1) Whatever you say about foreigners competing for places in school, the same can be said manifold for Singaporeans.
2) It distracts from the main issues around access to popular schools, which is the broken and unfair Phase 2A/2B alumni/volunteer systems. Unfair in that it stacks the odds for some people and for no good reason.
3) It’s awfully small minded… -
3Boys:
I have a big issue with blanket alumni priority. It is not based on any principles apart from the fact that the person was lucky enough to have been enrolled in the school in his childhood.
The writer also wrote thatalng:
[quote=\"Phase 2C\"]ST online Forum: Ways to fix P1 registration system
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/ways-fix-p1-registration-system-20130515
As stated above,
\"When balloting is necessary, Singaporeans are given priority over permanent residents (PRs). However, for Phases 1 and 2A, all eligible applicants are admitted and no balloting is required. This means that PRs who qualify under these phases will still have priority over Singaporeans who do not qualify.
PRs should not be admitted under Phases 1 and 2A. This will ensure that citizens have absolute priority in the entire Primary 1 registration exercise.\"
\"Also, a limit should be set on the number of applicants whose parents are alumni of the school under Phase 2A. This will ensure pupils in a school come from diverse backgrounds.\"
What he does not know is that it is these alumni that are providing the diverse background in some schools, especially those schools along Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road.
It does not apply for Sec school admission, it does not apply to Uni admission, where possibly alumni may also be active in aiding the institution. So why the exception for P-school?[/quote]errr...for the \"lucky\" thing, my father is the old boy of the school and so am me...so maybe my father is lucky...old old times ago, the school is not even popular in the 50s'..that is before all the \"luck\" comes in... -
It will be certainly interesting to know exactly how many PRs are taking up places in 1 & 2.
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3Boys:
Hmmm...yes, the alumni/volunteer is indeed the alarming piece.Focusing on foreigners is wrongful because:
1) Whatever you say about foreigners competing for places in school, the same can be said manifold for Singaporeans.
2) It distracts from the main issues around access to popular schools, which is the broken and unfair Phase 2A/2B alumni/volunteer systems. Unfair in that it stacks the odds for some people and for no good reason.
3) It's awfully small minded.....
Had a quick glance at the cumulative take up rate (TUR) for the schools in Novena/Bt Timah. These are the schools with IP prog/affiliated program to their sec schools. Yet the number of places left for children staying in that area is pathetic.
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/novena
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/bukit-timah
On average, 80% of the places are taken up before phase 2C.
Out of the 80% places taken up in alumni or volunteer phase, how many of the children are really staying nearby? How many children are taking an hour bus journey to school and back home?
Its getting ironic whereby children who stay near a school cant get into their nearby school and had to travel further just because the school nextdoor is taken up by alumni from all over Singapore. -
During the old old days, Singaporean or foreigners (not that many then) would queue before the school gate for first come first register admission. Would this be fairer?
Even when we do away with alumni and PV, do we still allow foreigners to gain admission through 1? Probably need to wait at least 6 years to ‘digest’ before Singaporean truly have the priority over foreigners in gaining admission through 1? -
GLORYmum:
We will land up with our FDWs camping at the school gate , days before.During the old old days, Singaporean or foreigners (not that many then) would queue before the school gate for first come first register admission. Would this be fairer?
Even when we do away with alumni and PV, do we still allow foreigners to gain admission through 1? Probably need to wait at least 6 years to 'digest' before Singaporean truly have the priority over foreigners in gaining admission through 1?
How fair would that be?? -
Is this priority system for alumni widely practise in the world?
On closer look, schools like Henry Park, CHIJ St Nicholas, Ai Tong, Catholic High,ACS, Nanyang etc, even before phase 2B, more than 80% is already taken up.
In fact,this alumni system is opening up to more people. For "full schools" like St Nicholas, SCGS, MGS, Catholic, Maris Stella etc, the alumni from their secondary school can also participate in phase 2A of the primary school registration.
The system should look at the benefits for the children. It can be very tiring for the kids to spend ridiculous hours on travelling time, especially when they are already subjected to CCA/ enrichment / tuition after school! By the time the poor kid reach home, he will be totally drained.
I remember taking my long bus journey back in my uni days. It was so tiring even though i was already in my early 20s.
Priority should continue to be given to alumni only if they are staying within 2-3km.
We should not allow children to be travelling all around Singapore to attend the choice school.
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