MOE Relooking P1 registration - Too much priority to alumni
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There is no strong logical reason why children of ALL alumni should get priority admission. Apart from social inequity, and I consider this much more inequitable than distance-based, because it is hereditary (like royalty is hereditary), it in fact drives some pretty crazy behaviours. I know of folk who’s kid is travelling 90 minutes ONE way just to attend an alumni school, just because they could not get a place 5 minutes from their house (no doubt also taken significantly by alumni). And there is no way around this. Not merit, not bribery, not PV, not connections, nothing. It is the ultimate segregator, and it is completely unfair. Just because one is a HDB dweller with an alumni advantage over the guy driving the Maserati who lives in a District 10 house, does not make the situation fairer.
I say again, no matter what advantage you gain, there is SIMPLY little LOGIC to the alumni priority system, it is arbitrary.
Further, it is unsustainable. How can a system whereby only 40% of places is open to the ‘general’ public be a logical in a ‘public’ school system?
Last, I do not agree that all the prime schools are located in Prime districts. Already, we are witnessing a shift from ‘branded’ schools to neighbourhood schools in terms of school results.
Last Last, why this hang up about foreigners? Did not the majority of our ancestors descend from foreign lands? So all the popular schools should be populated ONLY by Singaporeans? When we are trying to raise our children with a global mindset? -
tankee:
Bottom line is even if they rank acs(barker) or acs(junior) they are still happy that their kids are in acs, isn't that enough?ksi:
...I think this is a more viable idea than try to remove alumni association to get into a school. If parents are so hung up about brand names, then Raffles@Bishan, Raffles@Tampines etc will eventually work out.
...
I do not believe this will work. If this does happen, parents will just start ranking which Raffles is better than the others. Just like ACS(Barker) and ACS(Junior). -
3Boys:
Schools run events to ask alumni to contribute old items belonging to the schools, without these alumni kids in the school, how are they going to do it? Put newspaper ads? :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: If the kids are there, it is easy to access the almumi.There is no strong logical reason why children of ALL alumni should get priority admission. Apart from social inequity, and I consider this much more inequitable than distance-based, because it is hereditary (like royalty is hereditary), it in fact drives some pretty crazy behaviours. I know of folk who's kid is travelling 90 minutes ONE way just to attend an alumni school, just because they could not get a place 5 minutes from their house (no doubt also taken significantly by alumni). And there is no way around this. Not merit, not bribery, not PV, not connections, nothing. It is the ultimate segregator, and it is completely unfair. Just because one is a HDB dweller with an alumni advantage over the guy driving the Maserati who lives in a District 10 house, does not make the situation fairer.
I say again, no matter what advantage you gain, there is SIMPLY little LOGIC to the alumni priority system, it is arbitrary.
Further, it is unsustainable. How can a system whereby only 40% of places is open to the 'general' public be a logical in a 'public' school system?
Last, I do not agree that all the prime schools are located in Prime districts. Already, we are witnessing a shift from 'branded' schools to neighbourhood schools in terms of school results.
Last Last, why this hang up about foreigners? Did not the majority of our ancestors descend from foreign lands? So all the popular schools should be populated ONLY by Singaporeans? When we are trying to raise our children with a global mindset?
Alumni teams actually help the schools organize many meaning events on school cultures and history, you think the school has resources? I suppose those who are not alumni cannot understand how much work is assisted by the alumni teams, especially so in primary schools. -
ksi:
Active alumni fine. For that matter, why not active participants from all walks? Why just alumni? If the defining feature is contribution to the school, then why the arbitrary cut-off?
Schools run events to ask alumni to contribute old items belonging to the schools, without these alumni kids in the school, how are they going to do it? Put newspaper ads? :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: If the kids are there, it is easy to access the almumi.
Alumni teams actually help the schools organize many meaning events on school cultures and history, you think the school has resources? I suppose those who are not alumni cannot understand how much work is assisted by the alumni teams, especially so in primary schools.
Further, if I were an active alumni, I would DEMAND that there be a segregation of active vs inactive for priority admission. Why should others freeload, and create ill will and sense of injustice? -
concern2:
No, it is still a discussion, not policy yet.ksi:
If the intent is to boost the property market next to the popular schools, then it will work because most of these alumni may turn into property buyers instead, that would benefit the property people and government.
Did I miss it or has it been mentioned when the changes will take effect? Thot they're just 'rebooking' into the issue? :?
What's fair and unfair? To me, one of those whose former school no longer exist, the question of what is fair and unfair no longer applies.
What tree is there to talk about? What tradition? They only exist in my memory. So, sorry if I don't take pity on those with Alumni should MOE decide to do away with it in the registration process.
Be assured, the property market will be featured and this is to govt's advantage anyway. And be assured too all schools in rich area will be \"truly elite schools\" with rich kids only. The social divide begins in primary school. Now if parents hv no discernment and want to send children from changi to bukit timah, why penalise children who stay in Toa payoh or Clementi not to be able to go to alumni school in bukit timah? We are really wiping out heart lander kids to hv a chance in these schools.
Again personally, this issue will not hit me as I hv only 1 kid and she is already in school. Her children will not be affected by it too but I feel sorry for Singapore to have to do this and weaken the alumni link in schools. Perhaps I am a just sentimental fool because all schools I had attended have very rich history in Singapore so I can feel strongly about alumni ties. :sad: -
3Boys:
Just alumni becos these are specialized events.
Active alumni fine. For that matter, why not active participants from all walks? Why just alumni? If the defining feature is contribution to the school, then why the arbitrary cut-off?
Further, if I were an active alumni, I would DEMAND that there be a segregation of active vs inactive for priority admission. Why should others freeload, and create ill will and sense of injustice?
Ok I can accept active alumni. Always the black sheep eg. Free loaders create the issues. -
As what vicki mentioned, if parents were really so concerned about distance to school, they would not have had any difficulty find a normal unbranded school near their place. These parents grumbled & make noise because they fear they're unable to enrol their children into their preferred choice. When I enrolled my children in the P1 exercise, they were still many vacancies left in at least 2 of the 'unbranded' schools within 2 km from my place after phase 2C. So, I believe there is more than enough P1 places for all.
I think the crux of the problem lies in school affiliations & rankings & parents' mindset. Every parent wants the best for their children. Sadly, some don't even care if it is a right fit. If only MOE can do away with PSLE, let all children take thru train to O levels. There will be more happy children in Spore! I think at that age they will be mentally more matured to cope with academic stress. However, it's just my wishful thinking!
Just the other day, I heard from a good friend that his friend (a mother) brought her P3 child to a psychiatrist due to the child's apparent inability to cope in class. The doctor advised the mother that the child was fine but she was the one who needed to keep her stress under control instead. :slapshead: -
ksi:
I feel sorry for Singapore to have to do this and weaken the alumni link in schools. Perhaps I am a just sentimental fool because all schools I had attended have very rich history in Singapore so I can feel strongly about alumni ties. :sad:
Me TOO! I will be damn sad especially I have been actively contributing to the school through sweats and precious time spend ever since the day I graduated from U. :faint: -
ksi:
Gosh, the worse is yet to come!
No, it is still a discussion, not policy yet.
Be assured, the property market will be featured and this is to govt's advantage anyway. And be assured too all schools in rich area will be \"truly elite schools\" with rich kids only. The social divide begins in primary school. Now if parents hv no discernment and want to send children from changi to bukit timah, why penalise children who stay in Toa payoh or Clementi not to be able to go to alumni school in bukit timah? We are really wiping out heart lander kids to hv a chance in these schools.ksi:
Yes, the issue doesn't really hit me either now that my child has been balloted inAgain personally, this issue will not hit me as I hv only 1 kid and she is already in school. Her children will not be affected by it too but I feel sorry for Singapore to have to do this and weaken the alumni link in schools. Perhaps I am a just sentimental fool because all schools I had attended have very rich history in Singapore so I can feel strongly about alumni ties. :sad:
Sentimental fool,
I am one too.
for I whose school,
Neither elite nor known to you,
Has seized to exist
without any ceremony or a note in the news.
I envy you - you still have your school. -
concern2:
Sentimental fool,
I am one too.
for I whose school,
Neither elite nor known to you,
Has seized to exist
without any ceremony or a note in the news.
I envy you - you still have your school.
You are humorous
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