Opinions of the Primary School Registration System
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Khordan:
The children of B, by their birth rights, are Singaporeans. There is no argument on this in the same manner that children follow the surnames of their fathers.Just curious...
These are two real-life scenarios.
1) A is a Malaysian citizen with Singapore PR. He has studied in Singapore since primary school (he was an ASEAN scholar) all the way to NUS. Since graduation, he has worked in Singapore and has since married a Singapore citizen. His kids were born before the law was changed so his children are Malaysian citizens and Singapore PRs. He does not wish to change his citizenship as he is proud to be a Malaysian but calls Singapore home as this is where his family is.
2) B is a Singapore citizen. After NS, he went to US for his University degree and has worked in the US since. He married an American citizen but never renounced his Singapore citizenship (not because of any loyalty to Singapore, just that there as no reason to convert). His children are thus entitled to Singapore citizenship. He is considering sending his kids to Singapore to study because he thinks the US system is crap. He has family here who can help to take care of them.
So, are we saying that B is more worthy of a place in a Singapore school compared to A, even if B has contributed NOTHING to Singapore (even through taxes) while A has been contributing to Singapore for his entire adult life?
As for A, I believe the children can convert to become full citizens anytime without having to fulfil additional obligations, right? If I'm not mistaken, children of PRs who are males have to complete, whether they remain as PRs or otherwise, their NS obligations given they are the second-generation PRs. -
MumandMe:
Beats me, I am getting that impression as well
Parents, why is there an inherent assumption that the children of PRs will perform better than our own children? -
maybe should try videoconferencing. then all students in singapore get same notes, same homework, same tests and same teacher.
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I think they should revise the Pri School Registration system. Keep it simple.
1. Phase 1: Siblings.
2. Phase 2: Alumni and old boys/girls.
3. Abolish Phase 2B–parents are already so stressed out in Singapore fighting for jobs (fighting with PRs and FTs!), why have this parent volunteer/slave scheme? Parents should volunteer when their children are in the school. Not before. The whole idea of parent volunteer work in most other countries is for the parent to be involved with the children WHEN they are in the school.
To do "volunteer work" to get the children into school negates the altruistic intent behind the word volunteer. Do the schools really need traffic wardens, canteen wardens? If the schools aren’t funded enough for such admin work or tasks, perhaps the ministry should stop tearing down perfectly good/new schools and building new ones and channel more resources to staffing. Phase 2B also appears to favour the incumbent party–grassroots and community leaders. For mission schools, they can keep 2B for the church affiliation.
My query is also whether for PV in 2B, do foreigners (not PRs or citizens)–can they qualify via that route? If so, is that a way they can get in before Phase 3? We heard of one of our friends, a PR, who did PV at TWO schools.
4. They should keep Phase 2C for Singapore citizens and create Phase 2D for PRs. This is not meant to deny PRs a spot in our schools. There can be some percentage allocation of spaces like what they do for 2B and 2C. So that we do not fight in the same pool. The MOE should also work closely with MoM and Immigration to forecast the number of PRs and their children vs citizen births. The way the MOE does the balloting via distance is extremely fair and transparent; but onemap.sg is not widely publicised and it is only when we get the booklet the month before the registration exercise starts before people know it. I’ve heard of parents trying to be within 1km, buying or renting a place and basing it on streetdirectory or propertyguru, but not realising that they should have to check with onemap.sg.
5. My last observation was that there are so many PRs who know how to work the system much better than Singaporeans. When I was queuing up for the P1 registration, I noticed that of the 10 parents ahead of me on Day 1, about 7 had blue ICs and these were within 1km of the school. I was a minority with my pink IC. If I hadn’t moved to within 1 km, these PRs would be guaranteed a space in the school, and I would have had to go for balloting as my original address was 1-2km. This happens because there are just too many PRs fighting with the citizens. PRs have a choice and they made a choice to stay in Singapore vs their home country. We are citizens, we have no choice, and this is the only place our kids can go to school unless we migrate or work overseas. Perhaps depending on the population make up (and if ICA studies it and actually talks to MOM and MOE about it), they can determine an equitable allocation of available slots. For example, 60% of remaining seats to Singapore citizens and 40% to PRs. Then whatever is left is for Phase 3.
Right now, all I feel that my citizenship is worth is 1 extra ballot slip if there is balloting (a big deal!!!), and NS for my son.
I thought my kids were born in 2005, a year with quite a low number of births. So I am very surprised to see such intense competition, even for the neighbourhood schools, which only means one thing … -
Ainin:
My query is also whether for PV in 2B, do foreigners (not PRs or citizens)--can they qualify via that route?
No. Foreigners do not qualify for Phase2B. This Phase is only for Singaporeans and PR.Ainin:
Some Singaporeans do that too.We heard of one of our friends, a PR, who did PV at TWO schools.
Ainin:
???My last observation was that there are so many PRs who know how to work the system much better than Singaporeans.
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Ainin:
:goodpost:I think they should revise the Pri School Registration system. Keep it simple.
1. Phase 1: Siblings.
2. Phase 2: Alumni and old boys/girls.
3. Abolish Phase 2B--parents are already so stressed out in Singapore fighting for jobs (fighting with PRs and FTs!), why have this parent volunteer/slave scheme? Parents should volunteer when their children are in the school. Not before. The whole idea of parent volunteer work in most other countries is for the parent to be involved with the children WHEN they are in the school.
Phase 2B should be abolished completely...forget about religions/clan/PV.
TRUE PVs should be like my daughter's school - where parents truly volunteer their time because they want to be involved in their daughters' school. There are happy mothers in the school reading, teaching & conducting fun fairs. -
Kissgurami:
If this is the general view, then we should ask ourselves. Do we welcome the competition? Or do we think it is unwarranted? If it is the former, let's brace ourselves and our kids up for this race. If it is the latter, you share similarities to the frog in the well. The little frog looks up at the sky, sees the moon and thinks to himself that he is a happy frog, because he can see the whole universe from where he is. If, like the frog, you are happy and contented staying in the well, this is an enviable state of mind. Good for you.
Beats me, I am getting that impression as wellMumandMe:
Parents, why is there an inherent assumption that the children of PRs will perform better than our own children?
P/S: No sarcasm intended. -
janet_lee88:
:goodpost: :lovesite:
Phase 2B should be abolished completely...forget about religions/clan/PV.
TRUE PVs should be like my daughter's school - where parents truly volunteer their time because they want to be involved in their daughters' school. There are happy mothers in the school reading, teaching & conducting fun fairs. -
Atan:
PRs should not be given the priority of the Ph 1& 2. If they are forced to ballot for their every kid, it will 'motivate' them to consider taking up citizenship or discourage them fm competiting for places at the 'hot' schools.
Some PRs are a selfish lot...they get to register their kids together with Singaporeans and yet do not give up their citizenship because they have no intentions to stay here for good. Singapore is for them to enjoy, get what they want and get out. Singapore is always a stepping stone...from maids to kids' education. -
janet_lee88:
Yes, you are totally correct. Don't think governtn is not seeing this fact! They are just dunno why keeping quiet until... Maybe shall we, KSP, launch an excursion to Hong Lim park this Saturday?Atan:
PRs should not be given the priority of the Ph 1& 2. If they are forced to ballot for their every kid, it will 'motivate' them to consider taking up citizenship or discourage them fm competiting for places at the 'hot' schools.
Some PRs are a selfish lot...they get to register their kids together with Singaporeans and yet do not give up their citizenship because they have no intentions to stay here for good. Singapore is for them to enjoy, get what they want and get out. Singapore is always a stepping stone...from maids to kids' education.
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