Opinions of the Primary School Registration System

[jasmin.044422LEONG]

Please share this note:

I want to compliment Maris Stella for their best practice in P1 registration process. Maris Stella has a chart on their website to indicate how many application for 1 km, 1-2 km and >2 km. This is very important and value (in fact all we need to know) for parents to make informed decision. This is the only school i have seen. Cannot believe we need to call every single school to find out in this internet century. Also, schools and principals are unwilling to disclose and impolite when we ask. Thanks!

[dorisp]

jasmin.LEONG:

Please share this note:

I want to compliment Maris Stella for their best practice in P1 registration process. Maris Stella has a chart on their website to indicate how many application for 1 km, 1-2 km and >2 km. This is very important and value (in fact all we need to know) for parents to make informed decision. This is the only school i have seen. Cannot believe we need to call every single school to find out in this internet century. Also, schools and principals are unwilling to disclose and impolite when we ask. Thanks!

Totally agree. With the exception of those in Phase1 & 2A probably, the P1 registration is a stressful and nerve wrecking experience for most so if all schools provide these vital updates, it would really help to ease some parents' stress to having to call the schools every hour to check the latest figures.

With less parents calling, it will ease the school's staff from having to answer the many calls parents make and probably all will be asking the same question over and over again.

[ChiefKiasu]

Yes. I absolutely agree that MOE should essentially make information regarding the number of applicants in each distant bucket available in real-time via Internet query. It will help parents to make better decisions, while reducing the load on school administrators.


If carparks can install carpark guidance systems to tell drivers where the empty lots are, there is no reason why such information cannot be made available, especially since MOE is running the central information system for all schools.

At the same time, I would like to propose that MOE make the LAST day of the Phase 2C registration a "cooling-off" day.

For schools where applications have not exceeded the allotment, it will be as per normal SOP. For schools where applications have exceeded the allotment, the schools should ONLY allow withdrawals, and NOT accept any new application unless the total number of withdrawals allow them to take on new applicants.

The purpose of this is to allow parents to come upfront and place their bets on the popular schools in the first 2 days, instead of waiting for the last day. On the last day, parents will then be fully cognizant of the riskiness of their decision, and can then decide to withdraw and register in other schools that have not already busted their limit.

For parents who decide to stay in the ballot, they do so with open eyes and cannot complain if they get balloted out. For parents who do not wish to go through the ballot, they will have time to withdraw and try for their 2nd choice schools without wasting their Phase 2C priority, instead of being relegated to Phase 2CS.

The advantage of the "cooling-off" day is that it reduces the uncertainty that parents have to deal with when being caught in a ballot situation. Too often, parents are not aware of the odds against them until AFTER the end of the Phase, by which time it is too late for them to make further adjustments.

Any support for this proposal?

[Oppsgal]

sleepy:

janet_lee88:

[quote=\"MumandMe\"]I support the idea to remove PV totally. If the school needs volunteers, do ask from parents whose children are already studying in the school. Where \"free labour\" (such as washing of sweet potatoes, sweeping the classrooms, lollipop man etc) is what the school needs, then the school should hire help to do the chore.

It's really ridiculous to have to do all this kind of stuff.
My idea of doing PV is to understand the school culture better. I'm sure MOE has contracts with cleaning companies to clean windows/sweep floors in schools. As for lollipop man, there are security guards who can do a better job.

I think schools allow parents to choose duties? My dd's school didn't ask parents to carry out such duties. They would inform us whenever they need PVs help and PVs can opt in if interested. My most tiring duty so far was conducting art lesson for 1 full day. End up with sore throat the next day. Not used to talking continuously at the top of my voice.[/quote]So choose a volunteer job that got nothing much to do?

[RRMummy]

ChiefKiasu:

Any support for this proposal?

:goodpost: I support with both legs and hands!

[Oppsgal]

So how long before hand should we call up the school to "book" a slot for child? is 3 years before kid turn 7 years old enough time to que up?

[Champion]

RRMummy:

ChiefKiasu:

Any support for this proposal?

:goodpost: I support with both legs and hands!

Add me on! :boogie: :boogie:

[Oppsgal]

so are we allow to apply school that is very far like 5 km away?

[buds]

limlim:

Then it would not be PV already..


It would be a \"transaction\", not volunteering.

However it being put.. yes.. meaning a guarantee. Hence the earlier 2yr work thereafter. In this loud thought i meant to say that if everything is crystal clear from the take-ups from Ph 1 and Ph 2.. schools can be clearer as to how many they will/can accept for PV (PSG not inclusive) and the rest for P2C. This way, none of the \"volunteers\" or... ermmm workers; will not be turned away after all those hours they've clocked but instead be guaranteed a space in the school of choice. To make the quota more decisive perhaps schools only taken in parents of certain \"criteria\" that they may be looking for and for a specific kind of work that is greatly required to be done in the their.

This thought allows for greater transparency and the ability for parents to make more informed choices from the updates available at every school website/admin 2 years before their child is to begin P1 education.

As for the clans/affiliations, i cannot comment as i have no inkling as to what are the requirements they are asked to fulfill until they are deemed successful in getting that important letter.

[verykiasu2010]

ChiefKiasu:

Yes. I absolutely agree that MOE should essentially make information regarding the number of applicants in each distant bucket available in real-time via Internet query. It will help parents to make better decisions, while reducing the load on school administrators.


If carparks can install carpark guidance systems to tell drivers where the empty lots are, there is no reason why such information cannot be made available, especially since MOE is running the central information system for all schools.

At the same time, I would like to propose that MOE make the LAST day of the Phase 2C registration a \"cooling-off\" day.

For schools where applications have not exceeded the allotment, it will be as per normal SOP. For schools where applications have exceeded the allotment, the schools should ONLY allow withdrawals, and NOT accept any new application unless the total number of withdrawals allow them to take on new applicants.

The purpose of this is to allow parents to come upfront and place their bets on the popular schools in the first 2 days, instead of waiting for the last day. On the last day, parents will then be fully cognizant of the riskiness of their decision, and can then decide to withdraw and register in other schools that have not already busted their limit.

For parents who decide to stay in the ballot, they do so with open eyes and cannot complain if they get balloted out. For parents who do not wish to go through the ballot, they will have time to withdraw and try for their 2nd choice schools without wasting their Phase 2C priority, instead of being relegated to Phase 2CS.

The advantage of the \"cooling-off\" day is that it reduces the uncertainty that parents have to deal with when being caught in a ballot situation. Too often, parents are not aware of the odds against them until AFTER the end of the Phase, by which time it is too late for them to make further adjustments.

Any support for this proposal?

:goodpost: :goodpost: