Opinions of the Primary School Registration System

[dorisp]

3Boys:

Do you agree in principle that NOT all that are eligible under current Phase 2A should be equally deserving for priority places.

I support that there should be differentiation in this Phase (2A) between those 'deserving\" and those \"not deserving\". But in reality, and from practicality to execution, it is very hard to quantify. And when the much extra effort to execute and to differentiate outweight the good intentions where this suggestion is originally intended, it may be an uphill task to get it through. :lol:

[Busymom]

3Boys:

Lets extend the concept a little. How about contributions that will normally cost $$. Say a lawyer that contributes legal counsel over a few months, for a priority place. Is that considered 'buying' a place?

Just thinking along the line of some of the earlier arguements, wouldn't this cause an even greater divide between the haves and the have-nots, if phase 2A also has to go through such a filtering process?

Personally for me, I do see a difference between a lawyer providing legal counsel in order to get a chance at phase 2B, as opposed to someone donating a large sum of money to the school to build a certain facility in order to get a chance at phase 2B. Both do not have a guaranteed place, but in the case of the latter, the person doesn't even have to sweat one bit, and the donation may just be loose change to him to begin with. :roll:

[Busymom]

LOLMum:

give free legal advice and get a confirmed place in p1? no, if he is a pv and there is no need for balloting at phase 2b. yes, if he is not a pv, didnt go thru balloting (if dd exceeds ss) like the rest.

if it is not breaking the law, then shouldnt all pv be guaranteed a place and not go for balloting?

I think you saying that it is fine if he has to go through balloting like everyone else, but not fine if he is guaranteed a place without having to go through balloting?

What is the context - phase 2A or 2B? :?

[LOLMum]

Busymom:

I think you saying that it is fine if he has to go through balloting like everyone else, but not fine if he is guaranteed a place without having to go through balloting?


What is the context - phase 2A or 2B? :?

my answer was directed at this phase 2b.

but another parent kindly remind me about phase 2a whereby the forgotten group (i forgot about this highly invisible group) has confirmed places without needing to offer $$$. the forgotten group by me in phase 2a besides the frequently talked about alumni members is the board members.

so do these board members deserved a confirmed place in the school at phase 2a?

anyone/????

i went thru the posts again and realised i did answer a post on board member hanging onto the post for a decade.... dont know why this group keep slipping off my mind.

p.s. really hooked on this topic....... someone better :clubmyself: me before i go :siao:

[mummy168]

IMO, sub-divide 2A into active and inactive be it alumni or Board members. Priority confirmed registration only for ‘Active’.

This way, there will not be free rider and those who really contribute are also rewarded.

[h530251]

mummy168:

IMO, sub-divide 2A into active and inactive be it alumni or Board members. Priority confirmed registration only for 'Active'.

This way, there will not be free rider and those who really contribute are also rewarded.

Alumni should be treated as PV and take away 2A

[janet88]

I am pretty hooked too. The much talk about is alumni ie phase 2A1. For phase 2A2, this is for children of old boys/girls, siblings and children of staff. Anyone against this?

[LOLMum]

this is on moe website (2005) giving a general description of the duties of this group in phase 2a


School Advisory/Management Committee
------------------------------------------------

1) Serves in an advisory and voluntary capacity to support school programmes, functions and activities

2) Offers sponsorship and helps the school raise funds for developmental, infrastructural and enrichment activities to benefit students and staff

3)Provides links and encourages networking between the school on the one hand and the community, industry and parents on the other for mutual benefit and quality education

4) Acts as role model of active citizenship for students

5) Provides moral support and encouragement to the Principal and staff

after speaking to some friends cum teachers, seem that the duties and responsibilities are more complex than a pv.

as it deals with the more complex issues of running a school, many of these people are mainly professionals and not just plucked out from the street. how to be a member? you have to call moe or school to find out.

{quote
hi janet_lee88

The much talk about is alumni ie phase 2A1. For phase 2A2, this is for children of old boys/girls, siblings and children of staff. Anyone against this} quote}

yes, the much talk was about alumni :lol: .

thus i am still sticking to my original decision which is all in phase 2a should be given confirmed places in registration of p1.

[janet88]

LOLMum:

School Advisory/Management Committee

------------------------------------------------

1) Serves in an advisory and voluntary capacity to support school programmes, functions and activities

2) Offers sponsorship and helps the school raise funds for developmental, infrastructural and enrichment activities to benefit students and staff

3)Provides links and encourages networking between the school on the one hand and the community, industry and parents on the other for mutual benefit and quality education

4) Acts as role model of active citizenship for students

5) Provides moral support and encouragement to the Principal and staff

after speaking to some friends cum teachers, seem that the duties and responsibilities are more complex than a pv.

as it deals with the more complex issues of running a school, many of these people are mainly professionals and not just plucked out from the street. how to be a member? you have to call moe or school to find out.

thus i am still sticking to my original decision which is all in phase 2a should be given confirmed places in registration of p1.

After reading the responsibilities of what members in Phase 2A1 have, I'm convinced that all kids under Phase 1 and Phase 2A1/2 should be confirmed of places during P1 registration.

[citygirl]

Just read through 10+ pages on this thread and it’s obvious that a consensus will never be reached.


I personally am not in favour of any changes to the current system as I believe it is as fair as it can get, in terms of the priority accorded to the people who fall within each category. I agree that it might potentially close the door on anyone who has no prior relationship with the school (if all places are taken up at P2A) but hey, there are only so many places in the school and we cannot begrudge those who have that prior relationship.

To measure P2A applicants according to active or non-active alumni does not hold. How to measure and where to cut off? Even if a parent is a non-active alumni, who is to say that his kid is less deserving than one who has no prior relationship with the school, but wants a place because he/she lives next door? To me, at least the non-active alumni studied there in the past, helped build the school’s reputation and possibly raised funds for the school while he/she was studying there.

At the end of it, why are we debating whether governing board members, active or non-active alumni, teachers’ kids etc. are deserving or not? You could argue that they are not so deserving, but can you argue that there are others who are more deserving? Is a person who’s baptised as an infant but never attends church deserving to be in P2B? Is a person who got a couple of signatures on their SHHK application form when their child was born more deserving? Is a person who lives next door to the school most deserving of a place there?

And I like that relationship is the primary criteria, with distance as a secondary criteria. Because relationships cannot be bought, while distance can.

I do agree with some of the criticism leveled against the PV scheme - selection criteria not transparent, parents being exploited in some cases (accepting too many pvs or making them work 100 hours) and resources not being effectively utilised. But that’s all from the parents’ point of view. Look at it from the school’s point of view. Just because you are a lawyer and want to be a pv, if I don’t need legal expertise, I don’t. My focus is to run a school, not make sure that the pool of parents who want to send their kids to my school have appropriate jobs to do. Can you blame the school for needing only lollipop men? Take it or leave it, I say. And I know of many professionals who are willing to be a lollipop man for a shot at a place in the school, happily and without grudge. I do think it’s a great way to meet with students, teachers etc. and get to know the school better.

I feel that it is ironical that there are calls to change the system so that popular schools become less likely to create generations of elite, but these are the same people who want their kids to enter the popular school. Why? So that their kids can get what they feel is a good education in a good school and join the elite group in future. If we were so intent on cross-fertilisation of people, ideas, religions etc. why aren’t these parents banging on the doors of the madrasahs in the name of equality and nation-building? Why not criticise the gifted and SAP programs?

I am registering DS1 in 2012 and have done all my research. Sadly, the school I would dearly like to send my boys to is out of reach, as I am neither an alumnus nor have any church/clan association, and the school does not accept pvs. I might still try to move to within 1km, but will likely have to go for plan B. Will do all that I can within my means, legally and ethically, but it’s in the hands of God after that. Peace!