Opinions of the Primary School Registration System
-
Dora1:
That is certainly one big impact.
Also, I really pity the MOE person that is doing the school planning. How are they going to predict how many children from pasir ris would come over to study in Rulang in Jurong West huh? The alumni intake at Rulang last year really totally threw off the balance in Jurong West. With 10 places left for P2C, it's almost like having 1 whole school shut down in Jurong West, leaving parents to scramble for schools like Shuqun and lakeside, which ended up having to ballot.
Those who cry foul saying we are stripping off the alumni recognition, please get it right. We are still recognizing the alumni contribution, just that the alumni should also be in residing in the neighbourhood. Somebody's suggestion of 33% each for P2A, P2B and P2C is a very good one. It balances out the needs of everyone.
With the growing numbers of P2A entries to popular schools, it almost not worth the while anymore to move within 1-2km of schools, 'coz if you are hoping for P2B/2C to sneak in on distance criteria, your odds are just getting ridiculously long. -
3Boys:
3boys, actually we would have moved OUT of Rulang's vicinity if not for the fact that it's near DH's workplace and the ILs. It's totally senseless. All along, we were only targeting Shuqun. But the spillover effect of Rulang is just too crazy. End up now DD has to go to a school 1-2 km away. Every morning we have to fight the crazy line of cars to get to Rulang to get her to school. No direct bus some more. We just want a school for DD that is within walking distance, or at least 2-3 bus stops away.
That is certainly one big impact.Dora1:
Also, I really pity the MOE person that is doing the school planning. How are they going to predict how many children from pasir ris would come over to study in Rulang in Jurong West huh? The alumni intake at Rulang last year really totally threw off the balance in Jurong West. With 10 places left for P2C, it's almost like having 1 whole school shut down in Jurong West, leaving parents to scramble for schools like Shuqun and lakeside, which ended up having to ballot.
Those who cry foul saying we are stripping off the alumni recognition, please get it right. We are still recognizing the alumni contribution, just that the alumni should also be in residing in the neighbourhood. Somebody's suggestion of 33% each for P2A, P2B and P2C is a very good one. It balances out the needs of everyone.
With the growing numbers of P2A entries to popular schools, it almost not worth the while anymore to move within 1-2km of schools, 'coz if you are hoping for P2B/2C to sneak in on distance criteria, your odds are just getting ridiculously long. -
Dora1:
LIKED!
Well, I don't see how we can have the lower income children travelling from Woodlands to Newton to attend their parent's alma mata. You need resources (car, money for school bus) in order to do that. So the ones that are currently travelling from one end of the island to the other to send their children to their alma matar should not be from too low a class anyway. On the contary, the current system ensures that only those that can afford the resources are able to send their kids to a school on the other end of the island.
For the lower income in places like Ai Tong, Rulang, Nan Hua and St Hilda's, even though the school is opp their house, they currently have no chance to go there just because their parents are not alumni. And because these alumni have the resources to send their kids from all over SG to their neighbourhood. They have to end up walking 20min to school everyday.
Is this fair then?
There are only <10 schools in the bukit timah/newton zone. But there are so many other \"Hot\" schools in the heartlands that are depriving the neighbourhood children of a place. Shall we have a policy that serves these <10 schools, or should the policy work for most of the schools in SG?
Also, I really pity the MOE person that is doing the school planning. How are they going to predict how many children from pasir ris would come over to study in Rulang in Jurong West huh? The alumni intake at Rulang last year really totally threw off the balance in Jurong West. With 10 places left for P2C, it's almost like having 1 whole school shut down in Jurong West, leaving parents to scramble for schools like Shuqun and lakeside, which ended up having to ballot.
Those who cry foul saying we are stripping off the alumni recognition, please get it right. We are still recognizing the alumni contribution, just that the alumni should also be in residing in the neighbourhood. Somebody's suggestion of 33% each for P2A, P2B and P2C is a very good one. It balances out the needs of everyone.
Hope that MOE will understand this situation and provide solution. -
3Boys:
Oh. no.... One school in the neighborhood with door closed to neighbors, and open big big to visitors from all over the island..
That is certainly one big impact.Dora1:
Also, I really pity the MOE person that is doing the school planning. How are they going to predict how many children from pasir ris would come over to study in Rulang in Jurong West huh? The alumni intake at Rulang last year really totally threw off the balance in Jurong West. With 10 places left for P2C, it's almost like having 1 whole school shut down in Jurong West, leaving parents to scramble for schools like Shuqun and lakeside, which ended up having to ballot.
With the growing numbers of P2A entries to popular schools, it almost not worth the while anymore to move within 1-2km of schools, 'coz if you are hoping for P2B/2C to sneak in on distance criteria, your odds are just getting ridiculously long.
the traffic is gonna get worst..
More families are gonna need a car
More pple are gonna complain of raising COE and reduce affordability of cars.
More competition for sch bus service.. is sch bus fee/rate gonna rise soon? :evil:
wild speculation.. :evil: -
If the pple in the neighborhood cannot get into sch next door, means they are gonna travel far far away to a school that is not their desired choice…
And these pple are gonna contribute to the traffic… (Not just the alumni now…)
How how how…
Every morning long loooooooong queue of cars and school buses outside the schools, took out one lane and obstructing traffic… -
winchester:
however, well meaning and based on geography, this would seriously drive up property price near \"elite\" schools and that means only those who can afford can go elite schools. the situation is worse.GLORYmum:
Alumni contributes to the past and present of the school through activities such as fund raising. Their efforts are acknowledged the same way as those who have contributed as grassroot leaders through their service rendered at community level.
If we choose to ignore their contributions and opt to abolish alumni links at 2A(1) , why do we not also abolish PV, church/Clan and community leader of 2B?
my humble suggestion:
phase 1 - child with siblings presently studying in the school
phase 2A - child of staff member of the school
phase 2B(1) - child residing < 1km
phase 2B(2)- child residing 1-2km
phase 2B(3) - child residing >2km
phase 2C - all children not registered in phases above
Where balloting is required, SCs will be given absolute priority over PRs.
True, prices around elite schools are driven up by branded schools. They have been and will always be so long as distance is included as a priority for registration. If more hdb are erected nearby, would this solve the problem of promoting elitism within a zone?
If we shudder at the idea of the rich monopolizing the branded schools, abolish unfair alumni links, abolish community leaders links, abolish clan/church links, abolish PV links, laugh off at getting our helpers to queue for a first come first serve registration scheme or random computerized selection, what category of priority or scheme do you think will be the fairest and the most ideal?
Every scheme touches someone favourably and others otherwise. It will be hard to please everyone and what is fair for you may not be fair for me. -
pirate:
Yes. If ballot out of 1-2km then u will be given priority at >2km.
What happens when a child gets balloted out, say in P2B(1)? Another bite of the cherry at P2B(2) or go straight to P2C?GLORYmum:
my humble suggestion:
phase 1 - child with siblings presently studying in the school
phase 2A - child of staff member of the school
phase 2B(1) - child residing < 1km
phase 2B(2)- child residing 1-2km
phase 2B(3) - child residing >2km
phase 2C - all children not registered in phases above
Where balloting is required, SCs will be given absolute priority over PRs.
If can, got priority over those residing 1-2km?
Really suay child can still be balloted to very far away? -
The only group of people who wouldn’t contribute to traffic jam is those who live just next to the school.
There are parents who drive their kids to school then to work (living within 1km) and grandparents or parents who pick them up in car to go for enrichment classes or to caretaker’s home. -
3Boys:
I suggest opening Henry Park - North, South, East, West branch to cater to the growing number of alumni and cater to the great demand for this premium brand. Scatter the branches over the island to ease all the traffic jams and also to meet the distance criteria, reduce travelling time.Just take a look guys....
![](\"http://image.kiasuparent.com/kspfiles/files/file/A-BukitTimah.jpg\")
http://image.kiasuparent.com/kspfiles/files/file/A-BukitTimah.jpg\">
What's wrong with this picture?
Bear in mind those in Phase 1 are likely younger siblings of those who got in from the other phases in earlier years....and guess the predominant phase (apart from Phase 1) for the popular schools.....
And is the problem growing? Is this sustainable? Are we at the cusp of an alumni only school? Look at Henry Park in 2012. If you weren't in 2A, what do you think of your chances? Phase 2A is unconstrained, how will HPPS intake be like in 3-4 years? This is what a public school system ought to look like? This is diversity? We are throwing smoke and distractions? This is sour grapes? Life is unfair, we should just live with it?
-
Let's take a look at the 2012 cumulative take up % after Phases 1 and 2A of the below popular primary schools ( Source : Kiasuparents.com - Singapore P1 registration School Balloting History)
Rulang Primary - 93%
Henry Park Primary - 91%
Red Swastika - 88%
Ai Tong Primary - 87%
Nan Hua Primary - 87%
Nanyang Primary - 87%
ACS (Primary) - 85%
Catholic High - 83%
CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' - 83%
Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary - 82%
Pei Chun Public - 78%
South View Primary - 78%
Fairfield Methodist Primary - 76%
Maha Bodhi - 74%
Tamasek Primary - 73%
MGS (Primary) - 73%
Singapore Chinese Girls' Primary - 71%
Rosyth - 71%
Tao Nan - 71%
Anderson Primary - 70%
For Rulang Primary, only 7% (of 270 places) were left to be shared amongst Phases 2B and 2C (i.e Only 10 places left for Phase 2C). Is this fair to the child who is staying just within few minutes walk to the school but denied a place due to the limited vacancies?
Is there anything wrong with the current P1 registration system?
Just In case u missed it:3Boys:
and.......
Blanket Alumni priority for admissions into P-schools is
1) Unsustainable
2) Unfair
3) Unsupported by general principles for admissions into institutes of learning
.........
Does anyone disagree that
i) Phase 2A forms a sizeable and INCREASING proportion of admissions to popular P-schools, and
ii) Phase 1 is also driven significantly by Phase 2A
........
So.....
i) Warm and fuzzy feeling about your old school does not grant you the right to therefore insist that your child be placed there.
ii) Just because there is no priority placement for children of alumni does not mean that the school lacks alumni support or that they become hollow institutions.
So, I see no merit whatsoever in the alumni priority admissions, and in fact, I think this will collapse on itself at some point. However, recognising it for what it is, I doubt if the MOE wishes to commit political suicide by completely dismantling it from the outset.
But some cap on alumni phase is clearly in order.Khamullotr:
and
Good suggestion!pirate:
Simple suggestion:
After P1, remaining places divided P2A 33.3%, P2B 33.3%, P2C 33.3%.
Unutilised P2A places (if any) divided equally between P2B and P2C like it is now.
A child of an alumni who is also a PV/clan or church member/community leader can have 3 bites of the cherry.
Then everyone will have a fair chance.
Schools in the neighbourhood like Rulang, red swastica, st nicholas, rosyth etc are also facing the same problems as those in bt timah, novena area. Noted that there is a long list of schools with less than 40% places after phase 2B.
Whatever research MOE is carrying out, they have to note that a low number of applicants in 2C does not mean that there is low demand for that school in phase 2C!
People make calculated risks. If there is very very little space left, they probably would not want to take the chance to join the ballot for that few space available.
............
I prefer her to join the school near my home! But, the places available for phase 2c is so limited in my neighborhood school. They have strong alumni and church affiliations.
If I can get into the school nearby, I would not need to go back to my alumni school and deprive another child from getting in. My alumni school requires balloting for phase 2C <1km. But if i choose to ballot in my neighborhood school and i am balloted out, i will hate myself for not taking my alumni school.
It's an chicken and egg thing.
Without alumni link, I will have a super high chance to get into the school in my neighborhood. Then I also need not take up a space in other neighborhood.
Everyone happy, I guess. Or at least, the child will be happier. No need for long journey everyday. Don't think at primary one, the child will care if she is studying in a school her mum used to go to. For them, more resting time should matter more.Dora1:
And last,..... The alumni intake at Rulang last year really totally threw off the balance in Jurong West. With 10 places left for P2C, it's almost like having 1 whole school shut down in Jurong West, leaving parents to scramble for schools like Shuqun and lakeside, which ended up having to ballot.
Those who cry foul saying we are stripping off the alumni recognition, please get it right. We are still recognizing the alumni contribution, just that the alumni should also be in residing in the neighbourhood. Somebody's suggestion of 33% each for P2A, P2B and P2C is a very good one. It balances out the needs of everyone.Khamullotr:
Mr Heng and team,
are you listening to the people's voices?
I am sure there is enough feedback from this thread.... Please take action soon...
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login