Opinions of the Primary School Registration System

[MotherHen]

I am a Singaporean and I was really fortunate in that dd1, a year 2000 baby, qualified for P1 registration under 2A1. True, I stay really far away from the school. Even though there is a primary school a stone’s throw from my place, I chose to enrol my dd in my alma mater as I really do have some of my fondest memories there, and would like nothing better than for my dd’s to attend school there as well.


Speaking to other moms at the school (many of whom are old girls too), there is such affinity. The school community is so close knit that both dd and I love going to school. I feel it would be a shame if Phase 2A is scraped. And worse still, for the registration to be replaced by (heaven forbid!) entrance exams and/or interviews. We are talking about 6 year-olds here. Why subject them to such stress?

However, I fully support the notion that citizens should have priority over PR’s in P1 registration. Not in terms of having more ballot slips. I’m sorry if this is not politically correct, but PR’s should only have a chance to register AFTER ALL SINGAPOREANS have registered their children in a primary school.

[larkspur]

hquek:

Actually I would quite agree with that approach. First few phases all for citizens . After that, PRs eligble to apply. Once that's over, finally foreigners.


one question. what is a citizen? Kids who are born to PRs/foreigners in SG have dual citizenship right? If so, they are citizens. They will only have to decide when they come of age. So how do we define?

actually the parents and kids must be citizens with no dual citizenship. The gahmen has to make sure no dual citizenship for the kids then eligible for Phrase 2A1 to 2A2, if then the kids can always go back to their original country and serve the countries after using up our resources in SG. actually now not only primary school, uni also the same.That is y i refuse to join the uni alumni and donate money cos they say the money used to fund the students who could not afford to pay tutition fees. how many students do you think is singaporean in uni who could not pay tutition fee? i rather donate the money to children fund or children cancer society etc.

[LOLMum]

does any1 know is a child (regardless of whether he has singaporecitizenship or pr or dual citizenship) who has a singaporean parent and a non-singaporean parent able to register in an international schoo here as well as a local school?

[newkeynesian]

I am a born and bred singaporean and a typical one too-kiasu and kiasi. The issue here is entrance exam vs balloting (inclusive PRs) then I am all for balloting which is a level playing field to get into a choice school.


By opting for entrance exams would mean only the best students get into the so called good schools. This will nonetheless breed the culture and standard of RI and HC at primary school level. Where does this lead to? A social divide at the tender age of 7. As you may be aware that families with financial means are able to afford their children in those premium enrichment courses and children who have exposure to these are more likely to fare better than those who are not though I am not saying that the correlation is a strong one. There are a few who are inherently smart without these exposure but there are far and few between.

Those PRs with kids born right from birth here are not only those that you have to contend with since most PRs are assumed and would have a high flying career here that pays well, and therefore, able to sending their offspring to such premium courses and would score in entrance exams. Then you have the local ‘rich’ kids from affluent families. The last group of children to contend with are those that left their home town in their respective countries and come here to study. This group of children are most likely to breeze past the entrance exams (if there is one) because they are extremely motivated and inherently smart otherwise they wouldn’t be here at all.

I still remember that I have a few foreign classmates back in primary school and they belong to the last group which I have mentioned above and they are really, really and really brilliant in their studies. Some have remained in Singapore and have very good careers.

In sum, balloting is much an easier option as it boils down to luck. Second, you will have a mixed bag of brilliant and not so brilliant students together which is a good thing in my opinion. Afterall, it is only primary schools that we are talking about (no offence). If you are talking about the RIGHT that you should have, might as well segregate PR kids to international school and local kids to local schools. At the end of the day, you will still have the same problem getting into your nearby choice school if it is a popular one and balloting still comes into play or first come first serve basis or whatever there is.

[puff]

newkeynesian:

If you are talking about the RIGHT that you should have, might as well segregate PR kids to international school and local kids to local schools. At the end of the day, you will still have the same problem getting into your nearby choice school if it is a popular one and balloting still comes into play or first come first serve basis or whatever there is.

Balloting with PR and balloting with Singaporean is different.
PR getting into the sch is like your mum give the only drumstick to your neighbour kid instead of u
Other Singaporean getting into the sch is like your mom giving the only drumstick to your bro/sis instead of u.
Which one feel more sore?

[newkeynesian]

I will feel ‘sore’ if I do not get the drumstick.


Balloting with my brothers and sisters vs balloting with other kids for the same drumstick would be a better analogy.

[phtthp]

last time, someone wrote a book entitled \"Who Move my cheese ?\"


now is high time to publish a new book, \"Hey, Don't Snatch my drumstick\" or \"How dare you Snatch my drumstick\" ? I WANT it BACK ! Give ME BACK! It is MINE in the first place !

[verykiasu2010]

newkeynesian:

I will feel 'sore' if I do not get the drumstick.


Balloting with my brothers and sisters vs balloting with other kids for the same drumstick would be a better analogy.

even better analogy :

first wife not producing sons, so take on mistresses to carry on the family name, like Abraham of old .....

to the kids, it is unfair sibling rivalry; to the father, aiya, all in the family wat .....

okay, :evil: :evil: :evil: better siam :siam: :siam:

[laughingcat]

Since when opinions turn into jokes? You guys are so hilarious.

[verykiasu2010]

laughingcat:

Since when opinions turn into jokes? You guys are so hilarious.

苦中作乐!wat to do ?