Opinions of the Primary School Registration System
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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?
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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... -
DesertWind:
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.3Boys:
Just take a look guys....
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?
But the branch with the most high scorers will be in the most demand too :evil: :rotflmao: -
DesertWind:
Actually HP is a relatively new school, started only in late 70s and took about a generation to become what it is today. It really make sense to select a few of these schools and open 'branches' where alumni across the country can register in any one.
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.
I donch mind if the govt also do the same for the govt-aided schools...but it seems like they donch like to co-own schools with churches/clans that why these schools hardly grown despite bursting at the seams. -
DesertWind:
for a start -
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.
maybe don't open 4 branches (North, South, East, West) first.
because will be too tiring for any one Principal to manage 4 schools.
perhaps start and test run with just 2 branches first, observe and slowly grow from there.
so, let's say we test run with 2 branches first - ie. Henry Park (West) : ie. the current one occupying Holland area now, plus the new branch, call it Henry Park (Central). Call it \"Central\" - so that those staying in the North, South, East can send their kids down to this \"Central\" school branch.
2 branches should be workable. ie. - having the same one Principal controlling the 2 schools. It is the same concept like the \"full schools\" eg: MGS, SCGS, CHIJ St Nicholas, Catholic High.
the only difference is currently in these \"full schools\" - it is the same Principal that manage and control both the Primary and the Secondary school sections; and the 2 schools are located side by side each other, where the little girls often run across to their big jie-jie school, curious see what they are doing.
now if we are to implement the 2 branches for Henry Park -
likewise it'll follow the similar concept, ie. we'll have the same, one Principal managing 2 primary schools concurrently. Except that this Principal is more hardworking now, because she's handling 2 schools, not just one. And she / he must be carefully / stringently selected by MOE, because not easy to run 2 schools concurrently. This same Principal will probably need at least 4 VPs ( minimal 2 Vps from each branch) reporting to her. Both these 2 branches of Henry Park will share the same set of common tests papers, exam papers, etc. same teaching paedogogy, same teaching curriculum. Everything the same ! The only difference is ... location.
And when Henry Park report the PSLE results, she'll report the COMBINED psle results as a whole, from both branches. Of course, she'll still keep the individual branch psle results. But as far as official reporting is concerned to public, it'll be the COMBINED PSLE results, particularly on the \"Quality Percentage passes of A/A*). This way, because it is seen as one, united entity, then public won't be able to compare the difference .... now, is it Henry Park (West ) perform better than Henry Park (Central), or is it the other way round ? So public will never know which is better than the other. Because they all belong to the same, entity school.
but internally, they'll know.
so, if let's say for past 2 years if they gather statistics that Henry Park (Central) perform better than Henry Park (West) - then come next year, the Principal has to rotate the teachers from the better performing school, into the lesser performing school. Every 2 years, Principal must rotate the teachers internally.
if the \"full school\" concept has been in operational for so many years - ie. ONE principal managing and controlling 2 schools - likewise, this concept is portable across to POPULAR primary schools.
next qn: -
who is likely to enroll into Henry Park (West), and who is likely to enroll into Henry Park (Central) ?
chances are (public Phase 2C + PV / clan / grassroot 2B residents staying within 1 km in Holland area + alumni members staying in the west ) are likely to enrol their kids into Henry Park (West). This will also help to ease the traffic jam, entering into Henry Park (West) - because those staying in the north, south, east - will not come to the west.
whereas (public Phase 2C + PV / clan / grassroot 2B residents staying within 1 km in Central zone + alumni members staying in North, South, East) are likely to enrol their kids into Henry Park (Central). Whichever phase you're from - all will get a chance to enter popular Henry Park school. -
BTW, the current HPPS is not in the west, ya?
See map below.
![](\"http://i44.tinypic.com/fkzepj.jpg\")
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