Opinions of the Primary School Registration System

[superduperks]

janet_lee88:

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.

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?

[janet88]

These selfish PRs don’t want to give up citizenship because they have NO intentions to stay here. Singapore is always a spring board to go overseas just like maids who have worked here are very welcomed to Taiwan and HKG.

Have gone off track. Sorry. Back to BT schools.
All the best to the parents who face balloting this Friday.

[superduperks]

LOLMum:

maybe should try videoconferencing. then all students in singapore get same notes, same homework, same tests and same teacher.

There are many ways to overcome shortages. Lack of resources should not be an excuse for poor management. Let's take healthcare as an example, are we going to shut down hospital or it's clinic if we are facing the same issue here? Not enough space and no doctors or nurse? No right?

Why moh can have one new hospital after another and keep changing healthcare policy and regulatory matters and why can't MoE do the same?

Look at HDB, the BTO issue was tackled so swiftly eventhough not so perfectly but at least,minister is listening and responding!!!

[superduperks]

See me fuming?!!! Sorry, I am just too fuming now. I think I need a big fire engine to help me put it out now. :stompfeet: :stupid: :mad: :torchme:

[phtthp]

who is this write Seah who write about debate over PV ?


is she a mother who wrote in, or a Straits Times journalist / reporter ?

[janet88]

superduperks:

LOLMum:

maybe should try videoconferencing. then all students in singapore get same notes, same homework, same tests and same teacher.

Why moh can have one new hospital after another and keep changing healthcare policy and regulatory matters and why can't MoE do the same?

Look at HDB, the BTO issue was tackled so swiftly eventhough not so perfectly but at least,minister is listening and responding!!!

Yup agree. Mr Khaw IS LISTENING.
Why keep wasting money building one new school after another ? That's wasting resources. Focus on the problem now. Although there is a declining birth rate, our popular schools are still flooded with PRs fighting for a place in these schools which have reduced intake.

[dorisp]

superduperks:

There are many ways to overcome shortages. Lack of resources should not be an excuse for poor management.......

Is the shortage due to not having enough P1 seats for all intended school going kids in Singapore (citizens + PRs + foreigners) or does the shortage only happen to more popular schools due to too many wanting only the more popular schools for their child?

There is nothing wrong with wanting what one thinks is the best for our child.

IMHO, if the shortage is due to the former, then \"lack of resources\" is indeed not a good excuse.

[janet88]

phtthp:

who is this write Seah who write about debate over PV ?


is she a mother who wrote in, or a Straits Times journalist / reporter ?

I just received a PM from a ST reporter about PV.
However, with 2 kids still in primary school, I have no wish to be identified.

[superduperks]

dorisp:

superduperks:

There are many ways to overcome shortages. Lack of resources should not be an excuse for poor management.......

Is the shortage due to not having enough P1 seats for all intended school going kids in Singapore (citizens + PRs + foreigners) or does the shortage only happen to more popular schools due to too many wanting only the more popular schools for their child?

There is nothing wrong with wanting what one thinks is the best for our child.

IMHO, if the shortage is due to the former, then \"lack of resources\" is indeed not a good excuse.

The latest update on number of schools involved in P2C balloting should be a group supporting ground for a justifiable analysis. :stompfeet:

[Kissgurami]

Taking a step back, I am unsure why PRs are seemingly being targeted.


There were 3.77 million Singapore residents, comprising 3.23 million Singapore citizens and 0.54 million permanent residents, and 1.31 million non-resident foreigners. (yes, I went to google for the 2010 stats)

86% are Singapore citizens and 14% are Permanent residents.

37,492 Births in 2005

so taking the percentage as a breakdown

Singaporean -> 32,111
PR -> 5368 ( not taking into consideration that there are kids who are PR and aren't born in SG)

To me, the above is an impact but does not relate to this whole Primary 1 registration balloting issue. Even if I buffer the 5368 by another 20% which makes 6442. This figure isn't going to cause 83 schools to go into balloting right..?

Numbers aside, what I implying is there is a bigger picture why this is happening instead of just pointing at PR as we should also see within our circle what is happening to other parents and their pain points.

1. The location of the schools -> Proper location planning of schools to cater for kids is certainly clear. Yet one needs to understand that the baby boom might last for a certain period in that estate and then what happens next?

2. Parent Volunteer : P2B -> It does come across as a discrimination of the parent's job. I was in a PV interview with another parent. He is an electrician and could only manage a few English words. The principal was trying to explain to him that electrical PV isn't possible as they have a contract with a vendor.

MOE should re-think what kind of message they are sending with Parent Volunteer scheme. Free labour to cover the gap in lack of staff for schools? Giving the school their own criteria of PV hours when it should be 40 hours? Tapping in the market to let schools pick and choose who they want to boost their school profile? Think it is rather clear on how the educated retains the educated and there isn't much shift from socio-demographic when a child from parents of low education can get in so call \"elite schools\".

Church/Clans -> I have wonder much about this..Why church and clan association.. You enrol or attend such things based on your faith and interest and somehow it translates over to Primary 1?

Grassroots -> If you are willing to serve your country and helps your fellow citizens, I :salute: but it shouldn't be given as a leverage for Primary 1. It alienates the rest of us who are patriotic but can't afford the time.

3. Yet-to-be Completed Property -> Parents must move into the new property within two years of the child’s entry into Primary One.

Hmm.. haven't much about this but don't you think this could also affect those within 1km? If you have $$ on hand, just buy a property which is going to be T.O.P within 2 years. (please don't come running about the rich as this also applies to HDB dwellers)

4. Rental Address -> It is a loop hole. I am aware that there are Singaporeans who use this as a way to get within the 1km or 1-2 km. Not surprising that the PR jump onto the wagon as well.

These are my opinions on the situation and gaps. You might not agree with all nor accept what I wrote and like I said, there isn't a system that fits all but gaps can be minimized where possible.

Just find it a little hard to swallow that blinkers are placed and just taking the route of placing \"Singaporeans First\" when there are other issues affecting other Singaporeans which we need to look at as well when we are the ones forming the majority of the registrations.