All About Home Addresses

[ChiefKiasu]

workingmom:

Yes, MOE has a \"standard reply\" for similar queries. In fact, when we wrote to MOE, we only had a query about whether there was a minimum time prior to registration as we were wondering how far ahead to plan when we should buy and move home but they came back with the LONG reply about using your rental address etc. I suspect MOE knows that there are parents who rent short term for the purposes of P1 registration and want to discourage that without openly saying so under their guidelines.


In fact, it was only when we wrote the 2nd time to clarify what they meant by \"temporary\" that MOE came back to insist that one must stay the full six years. I guess when push comes to shove and they are put on the spot, they feel this is the appropriate response.

Actually, we should just accept it as a fact that there is NO regulations regarding the time parents must be staying at the registration address, at least at this point in time, and be thankful that MOE is not being too rigid in its rulings. It would be terrible if they change the ruling such that no parents with Primary school children can move house, just because of some bad eggs.

[hunnylemon]

Thanks so much for finding out for me... think in this case, I better seriously look for a good property to buy near the school.


Erm... side-track abit and to ask bluntly..... for those schools which accept \"donations\" so that kids are more or less given a space in school without having to go thru the stressful balloting procedures.... how to ask the school how much they want? And any idea.... how much is a good sum? Sorry... quite blunt but juz curious.

[deardear07]

hunnylemon:

Thanks so much for finding out for me... think in this case, I better seriously look for a good property to buy near the school.


Erm... side-track abit and to ask bluntly..... for those schools which accept \"donations\" so that kids are more or less given a space in school without having to go thru the stressful balloting procedures.... how to ask the school how much they want? And any idea.... how much is a good sum? Sorry... quite blunt but juz curious.

definitely in terms of thousands of dollars, some even way into 5digits... will burn a hole in ur pocket...

[Luanee]

My friend tried offering $10k to a school in Punggol but she was rejected by the principal! LOL. Anyway she balloted under Phase2c <1km and didn’t get in, so now balloting under Phase2C(S) under another school.

[ChiefKiasu]

Luanee:

My friend tried offering $10k to a school in Punggol but she was rejected by the principal! LOL. Anyway she balloted under Phase2c <1km and didn't get in, so now balloting under Phase2C(S) under another school.

It's all relative. $10K don't get you much these days. Some alumni members donate as much on a regular basis to the school. I would imagine the minimum starting bid would be half a million to be of real use to the school.

[awesome_mummy]

hi, im new here and hv just started researching pri schools…


ive been thinking whether isit really wise to move bcos of the schools? shifting is not an easy task and there’re lotsa things to consider besides just finding a flat, buy and move in…

furthermore, staying within 1km doesnt mean u’ll get a place in that sch of ur choice… and what hap if you don’t get a place after gng thru the hassle of mvg? i rembr reading some articles abt such cases…

so right now, im stuck at weighing the importance of sending my child to a good sch vs neighbourhood schools…

anyone can offer any advice?

[Coolmummy]

Hi,


I'm facing the same dilemma too.

I have been thinking if it is worthwhile to buy a property and move to somewhere within that 1 km proximity just to get into a school of my choice.

If there is a ballot even for the above criteria and i didn't manage to get a place for my kid... I am sure to curse and swear :x (actually curse and swear also no use right?... but there is nothing else we can do except to accept the fact that the school is just not meant for us!!)

But really.. i am thinking :roll: ... (1) if it's better to just place my son into a quite-good-neighbourhood-school where we would be under Ph 2A2 (so a place would be guaranteed)... rather than (2) going thru all hassle of buying a property and moving house and going thru a ballot and not guaranteed a place in the school......

My hubby said perhaps we should just forget about buying a property near the school and use the money instead to engage very good tutors for our son... definitely cost less and maybe more effective in helping him get good grades. That sounds pretty logical too, I guess!

[ChiefKiasu]

If you are staying less than 1km from the school you desire, getting into the PV programme or clan/church membership will ALMOST guarantee you a place in the school. You will at least have 2 chances to ballot if the school is so popular that balloting is required for Phase 2B under 1km.


Instead of spending the money and time on looking for and moving to another location, why not spend it on your child instead and go to a nearby school as long as it is reasonably good? As long as you are comfortable with the school’s teaching staff, environment, character development, academic and extra-curricular programmes, the school IS good enough for any student to excel and get prepared for the real battles at the Secondary and tertiary levels. What is more important is that your child gets your attention and support throughout his Primary school life.

[babyronz]

deardear07:

hunnylemon:

Thanks so much for finding out for me... think in this case, I better seriously look for a good property to buy near the school.


Erm... side-track abit and to ask bluntly..... for those schools which accept \"donations\" so that kids are more or less given a space in school without having to go thru the stressful balloting procedures.... how to ask the school how much they want? And any idea.... how much is a good sum? Sorry... quite blunt but juz curious.

definitely in terms of thousands of dollars, some even way into 5digits... will burn a hole in ur pocket...

I heard that it could even get to 100k ++.....I can buy myself car or a house with dat kinda of money!

[Coolmummy]

ChiefKiasu:

If you are staying less than 1km from the school you desire, getting into the PV programme or clan/church membership will ALMOST guarantee you a place in the school. You will at least have 2 chances to ballot if the school is so popular that balloting is required for Phase 2B under 1km.


Instead of spending the money and time on looking for and moving to another location, why not spend it on your child instead and go to a nearby school as long as it is reasonably good? As long as you are comfortable with the school's teaching staff, environment, character development, academic and extra-curricular programmes, the school IS good enough for any student to excel and get prepared for the real battles at the Secondary and tertiary levels. What is more important is that your child gets your attention and support throughout his Primary school life.

Hi ChiefKiasu,

Thanks for enlightening me.

On one side of me... I feel it is more important for a child to enjoy his education and always feel motivated himself to get good grades, irregardless of the school he goes to.

But on the other side.. I feel i do not want to short-change my son just because i opt for the easy way out and did not try to put him into a better school. Sigh.... this is really kiasu right? :oops:

As for the so-called 'good' school i am eyeing at... there is no PV... and i am not of any church affiliation.... and the school is not associated with any clan.. so Phase 2B seems like misson impossible. Can only take risk under Phase 2C if we move house to be within 1km of the school. So actually, this is pretty risky right?

If only my son can tell me himself which school he would like to be in.... :lol: