All About Parent Volunteers (PV)

[hquek]

Jav:

Even though the PV is under the autonomy of the school's management, however I would think it is more fair if MOE manage the PV application to be more transparent as well. If there are so many applications on PV, don't you think it's better to do balloting. I heard some schools try to give equal chances to parents registering. Right now, we are all clueless how the school actually choose their PV. We all fill in the same form, may tick the same boxes on areas we can volunteer, but what make parent A got selected and parent B not, etc. Some parent got selected, but they gave up halfway, forgoing the place for other interested parent.

I pity the schools and principals. When they have to turn away parents to ensure those PVs get a good (if not certain chance), they hear complaints from rejected ones. When they accept one and all indiscriminately (leading to overcrowding and balloting), they kena complaints again.

I think the guidelines are very clear. A parent has to be able to commit the time and effort to do this PV work. How to choose from a list of eager beavers? easiest way is to assume that SAHP have more time and flexibility than FTWP. those staying more than 2km, they may not want to accept becos after doing 40/80 hours of PV work, there is absolutely no guarantee they may even have a chance to ballot. They may also need those with specialised skills - gardening, computer work, drama; those would also play a part.

If lady luck were to come into play (ie through balloting), the school may have trouble getting the help it needs; and I will be the main complainant (becos I DON'T have such luck).

I have to admit, I got into the PV for one school simply because they just started the program (at least from the way it's organised, that's my conclusion), so it's 来者不拒 - so luck did play a part. Plus that it's not THAT popular a school (as compared with nanhua/nyps/etc).

Talk about those halfway-give-up-PV parents. There are quite a few parents here who use their Phase 2A as a back up - register first and then give up when they stand a good chance in 2B/2C for their first choice schools. These also 'deprive' interested parents of much sought after places....like that how? Sorry to say, but it's the parents' perogative if they want to do that. If I had that kind of chance, selfishly speaking, I may opt for the same route.

Grouses we all have; but then I personally feel this system is fairly transparent already. At least it's not dependent on how much I can contribute to the school coffers, for that I'm happy. More so it's parents have to take responsibility to check out the system and follow the rules or at least how the game is played.

[Jav]

Hi Luanee,

As FTWM, I have not given up hope yet. I am still waiting for another 3 schools to give me a reply.

hquek, rules and sytems are not fixed and there isn’t any best rule. There will be parents try to beat the rules and find loop hole, that is nature! I just find the whole education system in Singapore is complicated, even before my kids get into it, the race is already started. As a whole, I always find all things in Singapore is very confined, the flip side of it, it is very structured. But at times, one can feel suffocation living in a confined box.

[hquek]

Jav:

hquek, rules and sytems are not fixed and there isn't any best rule. There will be parents try to beat the rules and find loop hole, that is nature! I just find the whole education system in Singapore is complicated, even before my kids get into it, the race is already started. As a whole, I always find all things in Singapore is very confined, the flip side of it, it is very structured. But at times, one can feel suffocation living in a confined box.

True true, but there had been changes made to the system - eg last time there wasn't equal allocation of spaces between 2B and 2C. Agree wholeheartedly that pp will try to find loopholes around things.

I agree that this whole process seems very complicated. But once you understand how it works, it's actually quite simple. The complications I guess would have been due to the adjustments MOE made to accomodate complaints from the past.

Just want to say that I do sympathise with schools and MOE becos it's really a thankless task. Anything they do/don't do, I'm sure someone will jump.

And to your point about being in a confined box, sorry but I beg to disagree. All of us have a choice. For those who do not wish to join in the 'fun'/'fight' for the so called 'best' schools, there WILL be a place for our children in A primary school.

I have made my choice to spend time and effort so as to get into the school I hope to get my son into, and I went in with 2 eyes open - fulling expecting that he may NOT get a place afterall (if kena balloted out). I have taken this step, and this experience is to me, something I will share with my children/grandkids in future.

[Jav]

Having confined, but we still choose to being confined and maybe it’s the best choice we all have at this moment!

[RRMummy]

Luanee:

FTWMs dont give up. I am a FTWM, applied to PV in 4 schools and finally got accepted in one.

I agree with Luanee.

I'm also a FTWM. I also managed to PV in one school. There is hope!

:celebrate:

[lllAcElll]

This coming friday is my interview with Rulang, dunno what they will be asking during the interview.

[RRMummy]

lllAcElll:

This coming friday is my interview with Rulang, dunno what they will be asking during the interview.

Don't worry too much.

They may just ask you to elaborate on your proposals and along the lines like why you choose the school.

Good luck!

[Luanee]

RRMummy:

Don't worry too much.

They may just ask you to elaborate on your proposals and along the lines like why you choose the school.

Good luck!

Proposals?? Wow luckily I wasnt asked that...

[RRMummy]

Luanee:

RRMummy:

Don't worry too much.

They may just ask you to elaborate on your proposals and along the lines like why you choose the school.

Good luck!

Proposals?? Wow luckily I wasnt asked that...

YA, lucky you!! It did kill quite alot of my brain cells then. Just hope no surprises for me for the registration.

[Luanee]

RRMummy:

YA, lucky you!! It did kill quite alot of my brain cells then. Just hope no surprises for me for the registration.

Oh u registering this year under 2B? Which school?? All the best!!