2013 P1 Registration Exercise for 2014 In-Take

[echeok]

I just find the system needs to improve. As a parent, it’s sad to see children being deny education here regardless of nationality. Moe should have the figures for sc, pr and foreigners with student or dependent pass. If immigration is to approve such numbers of foreigners, then Moe should make sure to cater enough placement for all children. All parents want the best for their child and that is why they choose to come singapore for studies. The kids are innocent, they shouldn’t be deprived of education.

I just find it’s very ridiculous to have such a huge number of balloted out children. That would also mean that Moe did not expect the huge demand.

[floppy]

echeok:

I just find the system needs to improve. As a parent, it's sad to see children being deny education here regardless of nationality. Moe should have the figures for sc, pr and foreigners with student or dependent pass. If immigration is to approve such numbers of foreigners, then Moe should make sure to cater enough placement for all children. All parents want the best for their child and that is why they choose to come singapore for studies. The kids are innocent, they shouldn't be deprived of education.
I just find it's very ridiculous to have such a huge number of balloted out children. That would also mean that Moe did not expect the huge demand.

1. There is no breakdown of the number that were balloted out. So I won't read too much into the statistics given that phase 3 is free-for-all, including foreigners without any dealings in Singapore. I do believe, on good grounds, that school placements for all SC and PR have been accounted for.

2. If the foreigners are living in Singapore due to their work, Immigration will issue them with an employment pass. They can request their dependents to be here on a dependent pass due to their dependency on the employment pass holder. A dependent pass, however, doesn't imply dependency on the state nor do the state agrees to provide for the dependent pass holder. Those conditions were clear from the onset. And yes, it is, therefore, unreasonable to assume that the state will take care of their dependents with regard to placement in primary schools (or anything else for that matter).

We should also be clear that the state doesn't discriminate nor deny anyone (regardless of nationality) placement in a public school should an opportunity be available (as far as I can recall, Malaysians and Indonesians have always been welcome to study in our public schools). However, we should also be clear that the state is not obliged to ensure that such an opportunity exist for anyone other than for its citizens or permanent residents.

While it's true that all parents want the best for their child and the kids are innocent, the parents of the dependent pass holder are ultimately responsible for the child, not the state. I see no reason to shift the blame to MOE or immigration for their plight, and neither should the fault even lies with MOE or immigration. After all, the rules of engagement have always been known before anyone decides to be involved in the game.

[panickymum]

echeok:

I just find the system needs to improve. As a parent, it's sad to see children being deny education here regardless of nationality. Moe should have the figures for sc, pr and foreigners with student or dependent pass. If immigration is to approve such numbers of foreigners, then Moe should make sure to cater enough placement for all children. All parents want the best for their child and that is why they choose to come singapore for studies. The kids are innocent, they shouldn't be deprived of education.

I just find it's very ridiculous to have such a huge number of balloted out children. That would also mean that Moe did not expect the huge demand.

It will be difficult for MOE to cater for the foreigner's kids. Foreigners may decide to move on to other places to work for good and the children may go with them . I do see a few cases that my colleagues bought their children back after 1 to 2 yrs of education here . It will be a waste of resources . Teachers here are well trained and it takes years to train them .

[gvyong]

Did Singapore really do such a bad job in catering for our foreign frens' kids?


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/singapore-birth-rate-vs-available-primary-one-places

For this year's P1 registration, all 42,580 P1 places are filled, except for 700+ foreign frens' kids, which is only about 1.6 - 1.8% shortfall in the golden piggy year cohort. With 1504 places left for Phase 3,the nos. show that 1500+ foreign kids got places thru earlier Phases. (new SC or PR kids not born in Sg?)

As pointed out, Gov sch is not exactly cheap, at $6k /yr. The less costly intl schs start at $8-10k /yr which is reasonable. Sg is an Educ Hub, so our foreign frens have a choice, even to goto UWC at $30k/yr. They should not be too critical of the host nation. The 700+ kids will eventually find places at private schs n we wish them well.

SC patriots should be understanding at this time. We hv done our best to accommodate. Some foreign frens may feel otherwise n draw comparison with Western liberal nations, but we simply have to point out the Sg perspective of self reliance. No need for 'go home' remarks. Rem there are quite a no. of SCs living abroad. What goes round comes around.

[wiltanws]

I realised that after Phase 2c(s), there’s reduction of classes in phase 3 in many schools that still have a lot of vacancies left. These reduction definitely total up to more than 700 places. I am wondering will MOE put back these classes to accommodate the demand?

[Monster Mummy]

wiltanws:

I realised that after Phase 2c(s), there's reduction of classes in phase 3 in many schools that still have a lot of vacancies left. These reduction definitely total up to more than 700 places. I am wondering will MOE put back these classes to accommodate the demand?

I believed that the reduction in number is after MOE allocated those SC and PR who did not successfully register in the first few phases. Of course, those parents can give up the place and join in Phase 3. So it do not to do with the reduction of classes.

[phtthp]

2013 registration - had come to a close, for 2014 p1 intake.

[wiltanws]

Monster Mummy:

wiltanws:

I realised that after Phase 2c(s), there's reduction of classes in phase 3 in many schools that still have a lot of vacancies left. These reduction definitely total up to more than 700 places. I am wondering will MOE put back these classes to accommodate the demand?

I believed that the reduction in number is after MOE allocated those SC and PR who did not successfully register in the first few phases. Of course, those parents can give up the place and join in Phase 3. So it do not to do with the reduction of classes.

Not really, I had did some random check in the last 2 yrs on some of those not so popular primary schools with a lot of vacancies left after 2c(s) but vacancies reduced significantly at phase 3, you will find that the number of P1 classes had really reduced compared to the initial vacancies by checking the sch website. Last yr, A school near my house had 240 vacancy (8 classes) , after 2c(S), still have about 100 vacancies but in phase 3, only about 40 vacancies available. Did a check on school website the following yr and found that the school had indeed reduced the number of P1 classes from 8 to 6. so 60 vacancies of 2 classes was taken away before phase 3 started.

Another most extreme case is Punggol Green Pri in 2012, initially have 210 vacancies, after phase 2c(s), still have 163 vacancies, but in Phase 3, only 20 vacancies available and a check showed that only 3 classes of P1 opened in 2013. 4 classes was already reduced before Phase 3 started.

[gvyong]

Sg Gov is known to be financially conservative. The reduction in places may have come after tabulating the forecasted educ expenses/SC n PR subsidies. The no. of places made avail to foreign kids in Phase 3 is then decided based on the remaining budget (allocated to MOE by MOF.) Even at $6k/yr, foreign kids may still be subsidized at Gov schs. The real world cost of Pri Sch educ is ard $8-9k, based on fees at DPS, NPS n San Yu.

[nicnac]

I also believed a significant number of the vacancies after the 2c sup were taken up by the SC and PR who were still unsuccessful at the balloting at 2C sup. These children will be allocated a place at one of those with vacancies… That is why the no. Of vacancies left at those school will significantly decrease in comparison to the vacancies left we see on the website on the last day of 2c sup application date.

**MOE had already highlighted on the website that the vacancies left on the last day of p2csup then does not equal the number of vacancies available at phase 3… Due to the number of SC and Pr who had yet to secure a place.

The phase 3 vacancies was only updated when all the SC and PR has secured their places… That is why what you see on the last day of phase 2c sup does not tally with the opening no. Of phase 3.