Opinions of the Primary School Registration System
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My suggestion is after phase 1, immediately phase should be
1) those staying within 1km. This phase priority goes to alumni, teacher with son/daughter, (abandon pv, pls), singaporean first then PR.
(if not enough vancanies among singaporeans, those who own the house get priority over rental).
2) 1-2km, same sequence of priority above.
3) more than 2km (less likely ppl will go to this stage coz good school would have already taken up the places). -
Suggestion:
Phase 1 - Siblings
Remove phase 2A for alumni & old boy/girl. Both 2A & 2B are elistist but 2A is worse as the alumni parents do not need to contribute to the school in terms of volunteer work and many are staying very far as there is no distance criteria and yet all will get a place, unlike phase 2B where some <1km still need to ballot. 2A form the majority of intake, leaving limited places for 2B & 2C.
Remove clan, religion or GR connection. People who join should do so for genuine interest and not be doing so for Pri 1 registration. Remember our pledge? Regardless of race, language or religion?
Phase 2 - PV but limited to those staying within 5km and limited to say 5% of total vacancy e.g if 300 places offer, can only take in 15 parents. And rename it, call it Parental involvement or work (instead of volunteer as it is not). All PW can get a place.
Phase 3 - Registration & Balloting for those staying within 5km for Singapore Citizens. Why 5km? So that the poor child do not need to spend too much time travelling and not too refined like 1km to significantly impact the surrounding property prices and also potentially get a more even student mix.
Phase 4 - Allocation of remaining places for Singapore Citizens who did not get a place earlier base on distance.
Phase 5 - PRs.
Phase 6 - Foreigners
Seen any other country’s Govt as desparate and take care of their PRs as well as ours? Do we need more PRs? Try squeezing in MRT trains these days. -
De Mum - why is phase 2A elitist?I am sure you will not be making the same comment here should you be part of the school alumni. Notwithstanding the unfortunate circumstance where the primary school from which the parents graduated from have since closed, for the majority of other Singaporean parents, there is indeed a school alumni to be part of, and be proud of. It is a question of whether one wishes to continue to be part of the school with the successive generations.
If you ask me, the school distance rule can just be, if not more, elitist (if you prefer such a word) than the school alumni. The school distance rule accords far more flexibility and advantage to those parents who have the means to purchase that 2nd (or even third) property to stay within 1km of the intended school(s), or have the ability to rent an additional property to enhance one’s chances. And while we are on this, then what about secondary school affiliations? Shouldn’t there be a level playing field for school admission, rather than to admit students based on primary school affiliation?
The long and short is life itself is never fair. One’s man’s perceived fairness may not resonate equally with another. Having said that, it is a fair point that many forumers share here that there should be greater differentiation between Singapore citizens, PRs and foreigners. For one, Singaporeans are not allowed to enroll in international schools, no matter their means and justifications. All Singaporeans have to go through the local schools for the purpose of citizenship cohesion and national education, whereas PRs and foreigners are not bound by this requirement. Secondly, this is our only Home. We stay with Singapore. We are prepared to lay down our lives for Singapore. We are born here, and we die here. We contribute to Singapore’s economic growth, in good times and in recessionary times. And last of all, we exercise our citizenry rights through a democratic vote.
May all parents here have the best of luck in getting your little ones to the school of your choice. Have a great weekend! -
De Mum:
Not sure about the 5km radius as parents are \"screaming\" over the balloting for 1km. Food for thought, South View Primary and Tech Whye Primary aren't really that far apart (less than 1.3km). But South View is overly subscribed where Teck Whye has 165 vacancies for P2CS...
Phase 2 - PV but limited to those staying within 5km and limited to say 5% of total vacancy e.g if 300 places offer, can only take in 15 parents. And rename it, call it Parental involvement or work (instead of volunteer as it is not). All PW can get a place.
Phase 3 - Registration & Balloting for those staying within 5km for Singapore Citizens. Why 5km? So that the poor child do not need to spend too much time travelling and not too refined like 1km to significantly impact the surrounding property prices and also potentially get a more even student mix.
I am so going get shot for this
but parents do want get their child in the \"best school\" regardless of the pain of going through balloting. They will place their child at a pri sch which has achieved less when they are left with no options. Guess this could be a way of justifying that they have tried their best to get their child into a \"good\" sch rather than say \"I didn't try and picked a lesser known sch\".
Which is why , there are lash out at PRs (these people reduce their chances) , if there are no PRs to fight for that chance, they can \"xin gan qing yuan\" to accept their fate of a failed balloting.
Next, Changes to Phases.. you can see how changing any phases will upset each group of parents who belongs to that phase (Phase 1 - P2B), I would scream high heavens as well if MOE is going to make changes to Phase1
There is a strong mentality that the school makes the difference in the child's education... how about looking from a different perspective where parents actually do play a huge role in nurturing their child and regardless of school, there is belief their child will excel :love:
*disclaimer: as a parent, I can say it is easier said than done and requires tons of patience to nurture your child to study :)* -
Chief, suggest u construct a mini poll consisting a few options of e above suggested new registration process. That would be interesting to see how many parents would want to see the system change or no changes at all.
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De Mum:
My opinion is they should scrap this PV in school. Just by contributing that few hours in school is more big deal than clan or churches who help the school all these years? Or those old boys or girls who studied there for 6 years who may directly or indirectly help in the school (be it fund-raising, participating on behalf of schools for events, competiting in sports, doing well in PSLE)?Suggestion:
Phase 1 - Siblings
Remove phase 2A for alumni & old boy/girl. Both 2A & 2B are elistist but 2A is worse as the alumni parents do not need to contribute to the school in terms of volunteer work and many are staying very far as there is no distance criteria and yet all will get a place, unlike phase 2B where some <1km still need to ballot. 2A form the majority of intake, leaving limited places for 2B & 2C.
Remove clan, religion or GR connection. People who join should do so for genuine interest and not be doing so for Pri 1 registration. Remember our pledge? Regardless of race, language or religion?
Phase 2 - PV but limited to those staying within 5km and limited to say 5% of total vacancy e.g if 300 places offer, can only take in 15 parents. And rename it, call it Parental involvement or work (instead of volunteer as it is not). All PW can get a place.
Some PV is even ridiculous..like helping as traffic controllers. I heard some even open car doors for students to alight from their parents' cars... -
CactusInDesert:
:yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes:
Some PV is even ridiculous..like helping as traffic controllers. I heard some even open car doors for students to alight from their parents' cars... -
Haha, I suggest that we do what the international schools do in Singapore. After all since they have been doing this for years, I am sure such a measure will go down well with the PR community.
1) Have a quota system for the PRs in phase 1 and 2A. The quota should be capped at no more than 3% of the smoothened mean of successful applicants for each phase over the last 3 years. Phase 2B and 2C are strictly for citizens only. Set up a Phase 3A to cater to the PR versus foreigner differentiation.
2) Implement a COE bidding system on the quota, with a base price of $50k for each quota allocation. Given the entry fee bidded at international schools were on average $100-180k per child, I am sure the base price of $50k is negligible to the PRs (especially when the tuition fees are subsidized and way cheaper than international schools). The quota income will be used as a bursary fund (with dollar for dollar matching by MOE) for the needy Singaporean children.
With this, there is certainty over the number of places allotted to PRs, and those PRs with the financial means (which I am sure they will) can also be assured of an entry place. Win win situation for both sides. :rahrah: -
CactusInDesert:
if you live near to popular school in / near landed estate with narrow roads, then you would appreciate why.
My opinion is they should scrap this PV in school. Just by contributing that few hours in school is more big deal than clan or churches who help the school all these years? Or those old boys or girls who studied there for 6 years who may directly or indirectly help in the school (be it fund-raising, participating on behalf of schools for events, competiting in sports, doing well in PSLE)?De Mum:
Suggestion:
Phase 1 - Siblings
Remove phase 2A for alumni & old boy/girl. Both 2A & 2B are elistist but 2A is worse as the alumni parents do not need to contribute to the school in terms of volunteer work and many are staying very far as there is no distance criteria and yet all will get a place, unlike phase 2B where some <1km still need to ballot. 2A form the majority of intake, leaving limited places for 2B & 2C.
Remove clan, religion or GR connection. People who join should do so for genuine interest and not be doing so for Pri 1 registration. Remember our pledge? Regardless of race, language or religion?
Phase 2 - PV but limited to those staying within 5km and limited to say 5% of total vacancy e.g if 300 places offer, can only take in 15 parents. And rename it, call it Parental involvement or work (instead of volunteer as it is not). All PW can get a place.
Some PV is even ridiculous..like helping as traffic controllers. I heard some even open car doors for students to alight from their parents' cars...
many of the recalcitrant parents are plain horrendous in fetching their kids to school.....stop the car, get out of the car, open the door for the kid to get out of the car, close the door, open the car boot, take out school bag, walk the kid across the road, help put the school bag on the kid, do a farewell hug and kiss, and watch the kid walk into the school out of sight, then walk slowly back to car, start the engine, and move off slowly .....no amount of honking will get these recalcitrant parents to move faster ......meanwhile the tarffic back up to one km away --- it happens every morning along King's Road, Queen's Road & Coronation Road. PV as traffic warden is definitely a critical function - as critical as the principal :evil: :evil: -
Mod's Note
hi All
:offtopic:
The off topic posts regarding parents' selfish act at schools have been splitted out of this thread, into its own thread here
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24661
Please continue your discussion there
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