2012 P1 Registration Exercise for 2013 In-Take

[mummy of 3]

Cars2:

she wants to do her best for her child. Never mind if she failed, but at least she had tried.


I couldn't understand then. But now I could.

:goodpost: I totally agree

[1amber]

Before I became a mummy I couldn’t understand the trials and angst of mummies in singapore. I used to find it ridiculous that people would buy properties just to be near popular school. Now I understand. You will never know until you go through it yourself. I would do my best for my kid too. The rest is up to her.

[phtthp]

hi Cars2,


your son is due for enrolment P1 2013 ? you stay in Jurong ?

which school you eyeing ? Rulang ?

[jtoh]

Cars2:

laughingcat:

I have been reading the MOE guidelines very seriously. Should there be vacancy exceeded for phase 2A, balloting will occur. Has anybody read before that balloting occur for phase 2A in the yesteryear?]

Yes. For admission year 1990, NYPS could not absorb all its alumni. All phase 2A outside 2km and less than 3 kids were rejected WITHOUT even a chance to ballot. There were not even enough vacancies to go around. The cutoff was at Phase 2A AND the parents have 3kids.

That was under the watch of Mdm Ho Chin Geok's time. Lots of unhappy parents then. Hopefully, history will not repeat itself.

You mean in 1990 NYPS' total vacancy was filled up by Phase 2A, so there was no Phase 2B and 2C? It sounds incredulous. Because assuming NYPS has 300 vacancies (figure is just for illustration purposes), for all 300 to be filled up by Phase 2A, ie by existing siblings and ex-students?

[jtoh]

Cars2:

phtthp:

hi Cars2,


to clarify, when you say 3 kids - are you refering to triplets born in that family can't enter NYPS in 1990, or any family with >= 3 kids can't enter NYPS under phase P2A ?

does this apply to all schools in SG (even up till today), or only to NYPS with families having >= 3 kids ?

To clarify, I am not referring to families with triplets. I am referring to an entire phase 2A where not all registrants were able to gain entry into NYPS. There were not even enough vacancies to allow a ballot process for families that had less than 3 kids (which accorded a registration priority during that time) and lived outside 2km of the school.

The school admission policy went through a number of changes over the years. In the 1980s, when the two child policy was in place, mothers who went through tubal ligation were given priority at P1 registration. Subsequently, the population policy was changed, and a 3-child policy came into force. In line with the population policy of that day, a family with 3 children was given priority during P1 registration on top of the school distance rule. Based on the vacancies available and the number of phase 2A registrants, NYPS could not take in everyone. So not all phase 2A registrants made it in that year.

Amazingly, that year was for children born in 1985 (NYPS had pre primary education at that time, hence registration was performed when the child is at age 5). 1985 was the year of the Ox, and the birth rate was not particularly high. Hence you can say it was indeed a freak result that consequently led to many many unhappy phase 2A parents.

So in those days, there was a limit set on how many vacancies there could be at Phase 2A? That's different from today.

[jtoh]

Cars2:

Anyway, one of the parents who were unsuccessful was my own mother. She was terribly terribly disappointed. I was in RGS then, and my sister was not able to gain entry into NYPS. My mother had to scramble for an alternative at the last minute.


The story turned out alright though. My sister went to a neighbourhood school, got into the GEP programme at P3. My mom, still remembering the slight during the P1 registration process, chose RGPS over NYPS for my sis. And she emerged one of the top scorers for her year at RGPS with an aggregate score of above 280.

My mom always said that she pushed my sis extra hard to show Mdm Ho Chin Geok what she had missed. Till today my mom is still sore about the whole incident. :mad:

Thanks for sharing, Cars2. Your sis is very bright indeed.

[jtoh]

Cars2:

LOLMum, i can imagine what MOE would say if we send them a letter after all these years! MOE would say - look, this is another real life testimony that all schools are the same! It doesn't matter which school the child is registered in!


Phtthp, my mom is indeed an amazing woman, she didn't have much education herself,couldn't read any English (being Chinese educated) and my dad didn't earn much (with my mom being a SAHM). But that didn't stop her from scrimping and saving, and gave her all and her best to her two children. Anyway, now that her precious grandchild is going through the P1 registration process next year, she is starting to get worried all over again. Deja vu...

Having said that, all mothers are amazing people. Whether their kids turn out smart, successful or of good character does not make them any more or less amazing and self-sacrificing.

Your first para is so apt. MOE would certainly jump on it to say that all schools are equally good.

btw, which school is your mum's grandchild applying to next year?

[phtthp]

it is possible!


1990 was a different generation from today, 2011.
that happened 21 years ago!

during our parents' time, it is common to see mothers give birth to half a dozen of kids. Some family even have 10 kids, before married women were encouraged to go for ligation. Big family indeed !

if 1990 NYPS incident can happen and that year was for P1 registration for kids born in the year of the ox, what more if it had been for those born in the year of the dragon ?

any other school(s) besides NYPS also encounter similar event / happening, over the past few long decades of history to phase 2A ?

in which year did phase 2B kick into implementation - allowing parent volunteers and grassroot leaders come into play ? that time under which Education minister in reign ?

[phtthp]

back then in 1990, NYPS may not have 300 vacancies.


maybe lesser. Over the years NYPS slowly expand the school facilities, as more $ and resources pump in. Today 300.

[Cars2]

To set the record straight, there was no cap on Phase 2A in 1990. Based on the school’s assertion at that point, the number of registrants under Phase 1 and Phase 2A were simply greater than the number of vacancies available. Period. And Phase 1 and Phase 2A entry qualifying criteria were the same as it were today, based on my vague recollection. You can reckon that a Sec One kid at that time would not be overly interested in the mechanics of P1 registration. Lol…


Before I digress, also to set the record straight, NYPS during my time had 8 classes for each level; with close to 43-44 students per class. By simple arithmetic, we are looking at about 350 vacancies. Hence the uproar on Phase 2A registration day. As for the truth of what really happened, no one knew. My 5year old sis was going through the name list and kept asking why her name was missing. My mom was livid. It was an unforgettable day.

As for where my mom’s precious (and only) grandchild is heading, truth is we haven’t made up our minds. My mom remains pissed till this day. My son’s chinese standard is dismal, hence I am unsure. Probably my hubs alma mater. Or probably NYPS. Or probably if history repeats itself after 22 years, I shall take a look around my neighborhood and see what’s there. Sigh…