Opinions of the Primary School Registration System

[tankee]

LOLMum:

mummyo:

I've NO schools within 1km and I live in a HDB, not an expensive private bungalow...

Then who do I complain to???

:evil: your hubby ???? :siam: :siam: :siam:

:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

[LOLMum]

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.

i wonder is there any discrimination against someone who is not highly educated or blue collar worker in getting pv jobs.

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?

some schools are founded by churches and clans at the very beginning to provide an education to the members. as it grew bigger and popular , non members wanted to attend these school too. so churches and clans opened the doors to non members. thus govt also started giving $$$ to these schools. however, church and clan members have always been actively donating $$$ / time to raise funds for schools as well. and i believe church/clan and school work hand in hand in running these schools in some areas like pastoral care etc.

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)

i personally dont think yet to be completed property address should be used to apply at registration. it should be the current address and not some future address regardless of whether the owners have the intention of moving in.

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.

there are many reasons for staying in a rented property not necessarily just for the sole purpose of pri 1 registration. i think as long as one is living there physically, rental address is okay

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.

definitely agree no system is 90% suitable for all

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.

:goodpost: but added my comments in red.

[limlim]

1amber:

CayennePepper:

[quote=\"3Boys\"]
:? I am struggling to understand

Maybe 1amber is talking about the PR policy.

ya lor ah ba den! :evil:[/quote]Oh.. you mean, declining birth rate but increasing balloting at P1..?

hmm.. interesting observation indeed :evil: :evil:

[limlim]

MumandMe:

Parents, why is there an inherent assumption that the children of PRs will perform better than our own children?

I'm not the first one who suggested that.. :evil: :evil:

but anyway, I did highlight \"IF\" the PR is really \"talented\".... as someone posted the concern that PRs in neighbor school might trounce premiere schools containing majority of citizens via priority admission..

So I'm saying, IF this really turns out to be the case, it is not a bad thing afterall.

And IF this is NOT the case, then, no concerns at all.. priority for citizens!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Jas007]

limlim:

Oh.. you mean, declining birth rate but increasing balloting at P1..?

hmm.. interesting observation indeed

we are not only competing with PRs ...
but the Aliens have landed, blended themselves into our society, and even possibly cloning themselves into our likeness too LOL

either that or ...
truck loads of kids were smuggled in ...
and or a whole lot of kids from other countries were adopted in 2005

this whole thing just makes me feel so ..... :imconstipated:

[limlim]

Kissgurami:

Well Said! Hope limlim gets it

Read my previous post for what I'm actually trying to say. I'm said nothing of NOT welcoming competition between local and foreign students.

And, IMO, competition in the school is GOOD, but un-necessary competition for a place (not related anything to student's ability/talent) in the school is NOT.

[GSK]

MumandMe:

GSK:

After going thru this year registration, I would tink only phase 1 should remain, the rest of the phases are bullshitting and should be abolish. All balloting after phase 2, without going by distance.

Choose what parents preference is the best. Balloting is the fairer.

Distance should play a part in the allocation of places to the children. A close promixty to school is beneficial to both parents and children in the logistics aspects. To eliminate abuse, the Ministry should state that the address used should be that of one's owned property, vs a rental property or that of a relative's or a friend's. The Ministry should conduct checks at random to ensure strict observation of this rule. A serious penalty or consequence, such as expelling the student from the school, should be given to anyone caught flouting this rule to act as a deterrent.

Yes, agreed. Distance plays apart. However, there are loop holes. And it will benefit the rich one. 2ndly, there are parents with no school within 1km or even 2km. And that's why I say no distance should be measured, let the parents choose, if parents willing to take risk and ok for the distance, then go for balloting loh.

[MumandMe]

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.

I agree with you wholeheartedly! :rahrah:

1. PRs competing a place for popular schools is a contrbuting factor, but their impact is way-over estimated.

2. Re-look P2B: It is basically institutionalising favouritism shown to a particular group.

3. Loophole in using rental address or changing one's address to that of a relative's/friend's: Loophole needs to be addressed.

4. Why there are so many schools balloting this year? Misallocation of resources and poor planning at the MOE!

[MumandMe]

GSK:

MumandMe:

[quote=\"GSK\"]After going thru this year registration, I would tink only phase 1 should remain, the rest of the phases are bullshitting and should be abolish. All balloting after phase 2, without going by distance.

Choose what parents preference is the best. Balloting is the fairer.

Distance should play a part in the allocation of places to the children. A close promixty to school is beneficial to both parents and children in the logistics aspects. To eliminate abuse, the Ministry should state that the address used should be that of one's owned property, vs a rental property or that of a relative's or a friend's. The Ministry should conduct checks at random to ensure strict observation of this rule. A serious penalty or consequence, such as expelling the student from the school, should be given to anyone caught flouting this rule to act as a deterrent.

Yes, agreed. Distance plays apart. However, there are loop holes. And it will benefit the rich one. 2ndly, there are parents with no school within 1km or even 2km. And that's why I say no distance should be measured, let the parents choose, if parents willing to take risk and ok for the distance, then go for balloting loh.[/quote]Yes, there are loopholes. So we close the loopholes first, instead of getting those who stay next to the school to go balloting as well. Once the loopholes are closed, I believe there are more places which will become available and this will make balloting fairer.

[janet88]

phtthp:

the ST reporter got hold of you, wrong person.

your girl already in P2 now.

reply this ST reporter - she should be interviewing eager parent volunteers instead, who are trying to enrol their kid very hard into hot schools next year !

Direct this ST reporter to go and interview ZT and Nanyang P instead.
definitely create headlines report, like hot cake !

The ST reporter definitely asked the WRONG person...my son is already in P5 !!! The day I washed 6 cartons of sweet potatoes with 2 other mummies for 5 hours are over...hahaha. The reporter should ask PVs wannabe what they are willing to do as PV in the name of love.