Opinions of the Primary School Registration System
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Khordan:
Yes that is true that our descendents and granparents were all foreigners. However they and we build these nation from scratch. There was a time where nobody even knew where Singapore was. And today all that hardwork of our descendents is being questioned. That is sad. Back then our grandparents came here with nothing and built it all up. Today we are seeing the same foreigners coming in as cash rich and competing with the local singaporean for space in schools which should be the first right of the 'son of the soil'. How do we singaporeans compete with the cash rich foreigner who comes in, gets a PR and is able to afford to buy a multimillion dollar home around ACS simly to get that priority at school? Our migrant forefathers did not do that. anyway im just a simple person who is concerned about our kids education. that's all. :rahrah:I think it's disappointing that in a forum I had previously thought to be full of rational people is letting this wave of xenophobia run rampant.
Before we continue with this railing and chest-beating about PRs & FTs, don't forget that ALL of us are recent descendents of FTs; our grandparents (or in some cases, great-grandparents) were FTs. Some of our best known and most sought-after schools were built by FTs for FTs.
As for the consternation about the various phases and whether it is right or not, we are just going around in circles. There is no way you are going to convince alumni they are not entitled to their priority. Similarly, clan members, christians, buddhists, and grassroot leaders and PVs all believe they are entitled to that priority (just like many seem to believe they are entitled to more priority just for being Singaporean). Some suggest that distance from home should be the only criteria for determining priority. Personally, I think that's the worst criteria. Of all the criteria in use today, it's the only one that can be solved by money.
Finally, rather than expect a system that can be fair to the 40,000+ kids who are registering each year (I have news for you, there will never be a system that can be fair to all), I do have respect for those who just quietly go and do what needs to be done to 'game' the system; create chances for themselves in earlier phases through PV, or other routes. Perhaps that's why many consider the new immigrants such a threat. Unlike many Singaporeans who just sit back, complain and expect the Government to fix it for them, these PRs & FTs just go and do what's needed and get what they need. I guarantee you that no matter how you 'stack' the odds against them, they will work out a way to game the system and get the child into the school of their choice. -
I totally agree with Khordan.
I was balloted out of a popular elite school in P2B. I was naturally disappointed but it is another thing to blame the situation on all kinds of things and rail against the system and the various rules. Whether u do PV, or join clan or be a community leader you know the rules of the game and so be prepared if the game does not turn out in your favor. We all what to do our best to get our kids into our school of choice but don’t keep pushing one’s agenda to change the rules to help yourself gain some advantage. No system can be fair to everyone and there is no objective criteria to measure fairness. Balloting is considered the fairest when demand outstrips supply but it is not uncommon to see parents who get balloted out as a last argument to rail against the foreigners whom they insist much have taken their child’s place. Even if Singaporeans only policy ( no PRs allowed) is implemented, I bet you popular schools will still be oversubscribed, there
will be balloting and people will still be unhappy and will call for even more changes to the system.
Everyone seems to thinks that the crunch in P1 places is due to PRs, are
there real statistics to back this up? If PRs after all the odds are stacked
against them with 1 ballot slip and all and having done PV, made sacrifices and done everything possible to get into the school just like other Singaporeans get in through successful ballot, why should we begrudge them a place? Don’t forget many PRs have been here for as long as ten-twenty years, done NS and i feel they have also contributed much to Singapore’s progress.
While I appreciate a lot of response in this forum reflects an emotional
response from disappointed and frustrated parents, let’s keep a sense of
perspective. I definitely don’t think some of the xenophobic and irrational
response is this forum are something to be proud of and values we want to impart to our children. Rather we want to teach our kids to appreciate and learn from different cultures, be inclusive and learn from healthy
competition. Do we want to molly coddle our children and remove all competition from their environment to create an artificial environment for them so they have the best chance of excelling? This will be the result if
Singapore schools only admit Singaporeans - no PRs, no foreigners, no more high-achieving PRC kids whom everyone seems to rail against. Such
Singapore kids will be ill- equipped for the corporate world as well as in
overseas universities with kids from many countries. The diversity in the educational system, the cross pollination of ideas from people from different
cultures are the key factors to make the system strong and will equip our
kids for the real world. Would the Harvard, MIT, Oxbridge be so strong and sought after if they admit only their own kind?
I am a true blue Singaporean and while I support Singaporeans first policy, one should keep things in perspective and be rational about the whole thing. How we deal with the setback in this P1 registration will also be an example to our kids. -
You are just one of those living in your dreamland. You will curse & swear if full data of real numbers of PRs vs citizens is shown to you. Regardless of any effort PRs put in, they must technically rank behind citizens in terms of pirority. Whatever effort they put in should be for the scrapes left behind by citizens. Period.
Musings:
I totally agree with Khordan.
I was balloted out of a popular elite school in P2B. I was naturally disappointed but it is another thing to blame the situation on all kinds of things and rail against the system and the various rules. Whether u do PV, or join clan or be a community leader you know the rules of the game and so be prepared if the game does not turn out in your favor. We all what to do our best to get our kids into our school of choice but don't keep pushing one's agenda to change the rules to help yourself gain some advantage. No system can be fair to everyone and there is no objective criteria to measure fairness. Balloting is considered the fairest when demand outstrips supply but it is not uncommon to see parents who get balloted out as a last argument to rail against the foreigners whom they insist much have taken their child's place. Even if Singaporeans only policy ( no PRs allowed) is implemented, I bet you popular schools will still be oversubscribed, there
will be balloting and people will still be unhappy and will call for even more changes to the system.
Everyone seems to thinks that the crunch in P1 places is due to PRs, are
there real statistics to back this up? If PRs after all the odds are stacked
against them with 1 ballot slip and all and having done PV, made sacrifices and done everything possible to get into the school just like other Singaporeans get in through successful ballot, why should we begrudge them a place? Don't forget many PRs have been here for as long as ten-twenty years, done NS and i feel they have also contributed much to Singapore's progress.
While I appreciate a lot of response in this forum reflects an emotional
response from disappointed and frustrated parents, let's keep a sense of
perspective. I definitely don't think some of the xenophobic and irrational
response is this forum are something to be proud of and values we want to impart to our children. Rather we want to teach our kids to appreciate and learn from different cultures, be inclusive and learn from healthy
competition. Do we want to molly coddle our children and remove all competition from their environment to create an artificial environment for them so they have the best chance of excelling? This will be the result if
Singapore schools only admit Singaporeans - no PRs, no foreigners, no more high-achieving PRC kids whom everyone seems to rail against. Such
Singapore kids will be ill- equipped for the corporate world as well as in
overseas universities with kids from many countries. The diversity in the educational system, the cross pollination of ideas from people from different
cultures are the key factors to make the system strong and will equip our
kids for the real world. Would the Harvard, MIT, Oxbridge be so strong and sought after if they admit only their own kind?
I am a true blue Singaporean and while I support Singaporeans first policy, one should keep things in perspective and be rational about the whole thing. How we deal with the setback in this P1 registration will also be an example to our kids. -
No offend but of course as a loyal and faithful Singaporean. We thought that we will be well taken care of in terms of any privileges comes first. If Singapore is really good to PR, why aren’t they thinking of converting themselves into Singapore citizen. Singapore government should look into grooming it’s own citizen first. Yes, PR and foreigners have talents too but can government assure that they will stay here and serve our nation forever.
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slepland:
i think technically, that is already in the cards right? Singaporeans get 2 ballot slips, 100% more than PRs.You are just one of those living in your dreamland. You will curse & swear if full data of real numbers of PRs vs citizens is shown to you. Regardless of any effort PRs put in, they must technically rank behind citizens in terms of pirority. Whatever effort they put in should be for the scrapes left behind by citizens. Period.
just imagine those non PRs whose parents on EP are the ones left for scraps in Phase 3 -
My point is not to defend PRs - I have no reason too. If indeed they are taking up places, I have also suffered since I was balloted out.
My point is people are just lashing out at every single rule in the system not just the PRs, the clan affiliation, the PV, the alumni etc. And why? To lobby for a change of rules which only benefit themselves. How objective is all this? what kind of example are we setting for our children? If you cannot win the competition, find someone, something to blame or selfishly push for change of rules to benefit themselves. Even if we think this is acceptable behavior since it is every man for himself, weeding out the competition through pressuring the Authorities will only backfire on our children who will be bred in an artificial environment without the ability to survive in the real world.
We might as well make the best of the situation and channel our energies
into nurturing our kids. Like many here have said, the school does not determine your child’s future, we do.
What I agree with is to enforce the rules fairly to weed out those who
dishonestly take advantage of the rules to gain priority. Like those who
creatively use addresses which they don’t stay in. -
I had alrdy secured my child, the school of my choice. I’m just worrying and pity for those disappointed parents. Nothing is fair in this world, even myself was just lucky to be a former student of that school. So let’s hope watever it is, watever colour of IC ones is holding, let’s pledge and serve Singapore, your truly and only country!
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Deity:
I had alrdy secured my child, the school of my choice. I'm just worrying and pity for those disappointed parents. Nothing is fair in this world, even myself was just lucky to be a former student of that school. So let's hope watever it is, watever colour of IC ones is holding, let's pledge and serve Singapore, your truly and only country!
:goodpost: :boogie: -
Let’s just cool down and relax from the tension built up during this year P1 registration. I am stuck in the balloting on next Fri too because that school is the only one < 1km, if I fail, I will just choose one nearby which is easy for us to transport. As a parent, I do understand that we want to give the best to our loved ones. However, I believe our strong moral support and guidance to our younger ones is more important for them to achieve well in future no matter which school he/she gets in.
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Deity:
I had alrdy secured my child, the school of my choice. I'm just worrying and pity for those disappointed parents. Nothing is fair in this world, even myself was just lucky to be a former student of that school. So let's hope watever it is, watever colour of IC ones is holding, let's pledge and serve Singapore, your truly and only country!
:goodpost:
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