MOE Relooking P1 registration - Too much priority to alumni

[corneyAmber]

I must echo Janet again... Alumni has 2 phases.... Phase 2A1 - pay to be member should go. Phase 2A2 - old boys/old girls should stay.

[janet88]

HVR:

I am in favour of removing grassroots and alumni, but not PV. PVs contribute directly to the school, and many switch to PSG to continue their support. However, the challenge then is how to ensure PVs are all not snapped up by PRs who have more time on hand to volunteer than working parents.

Grassroots fall under Phase 2B...as well as getting MPs to write letter to get child into school. So, it is ok to remove grassroots and those who pay money to get into Phase 2A1.

PVs serve the school directly...so this should stay right ? There are 2 sides to this - PVs who serve 40 hours to get their child into the school and that's it, job done after that. What about schools who accept only PVs of those kids who are ALREADY in the school ?

[sean wife]

Actually I don’t really understand the rationale of parents who are asking for the alumni phase to be removed…I mean does it really mean that their child can get into a nearby popular school?


My thinking is that for a popular nearby school (which currently has a significant number of places taken up at 2A phase), even if this phase is removed, there is also almost 100% certainty that balloting is still required at Phase 2B or 2C based on distance right? So it is not a clear win benefit for those who stay near but no affiliations with the school.

For not so popular schools, the number of places taken up at 2A should not be high with the current policy, and those staying near but with no affiliations already have a very high chance(or 100% chance) or getting into the school…

[doodbug]

Tokidoki:

MMM:

Frankly, I am not sure what is defined as a fair system. If it is fair to one, it would be unfair to another. Is distance fair??? Yes. But not if parents intentionally buy a flat next to the school just because they can afford to do so.

Precisely. And a lot are juz renting to get the address. Why should this be tolerated?

There is a difference under the current system. Alumni = automatic guarantee your child gets a place in the school. Buying a flat next to the school = a shot at balloting at Phase 2C (or 2B if you volunteered). No guarantees at all.

[3Boys]

I am quite against PV too, but I’d settle for alumni rule being changed for now.

[corneyAmber]

sean wife:

Actually I don’t really understand the rationale of parents who are asking for the alumni phase to be removed…I mean does it really mean that their child can get into a nearby popular school?


My thinking is that for a popular nearby school (which currently has a significant number of places taken up at 2A phase), even if this phase is removed, there is also almost 100% certainty that balloting is still required at Phase 2B or 2C based on distance right? So it is not a clear win benefit for those who stay near but no affiliations with the school.

For not so popular schools, the number of places taken up at 2A should not be high with the current policy, and those staying near but with no affiliations already have a very high chance(or 100% chance) or getting into the school…

The other thing is Phase 2A actually does not make up a big number in most years.

[3Boys]

sean wife:

My thinking is that for a popular nearby school (which currently has a significant number of places taken up at 2A phase), even if this phase is removed, there is also almost 100% certainty that balloting is still required at Phase 2B or 2C based on distance right? So it is not a clear win benefit for those who stay near but no affiliations with the school.

Arguably there would be more spaces open to the 'public' (non alumni) for balloting?

[doodbug]

HVR:

3Boys:

[quote=\"HVR\"]Alumni is but one of the criteria and if you remove it, people will go around it and make sure they fulfill other requirements in order to have priority in registration. If alumni connection is unfair, how about grassroots and PV? At least alumni instill sense of loyalty and make you appreciate what you've benefited from the school, and hopefully, you'll pay it forward.

Its unfair because its hereditary, and we have a public school system, notionally open to ALL Singaporeans, not a monarchy. I have made my statement previously about active vs non-active alumni.

Tend to agree with your view on non-active alumni but varying degrees of freeloaders exist everywhere, in every scheme, in my office. I am not sure we should remove alumni scheme totally... I hold my thoughts.[/quote]I don't think Government can ever remove the alumni scheme totally. We can't move from a system where alumni's children have automatic entry, immediately to a system where alumni roots count for nothing. It sounds very extreme and drastic to me!

My gut feel (though I have no insider clues) is that it will be some combination of reducing the alumni advantage - perhaps no longer automatic entry, I'm not sure. Alumni links will probably continue to count for something, but it probably won't guarantee a place.

[limlim]

3Boys:

Siblings is Phase 1.

of \"existing students\" only..

or applies to ex-student also? (i.e. age gap > 6 yrs.)

[doodbug]

ksi:

sean wife:

Actually I don’t really understand the rationale of parents who are asking for the alumni phase to be removed…I mean does it really mean that their child can get into a nearby popular school?


My thinking is that for a popular nearby school (which currently has a significant number of places taken up at 2A phase), even if this phase is removed, there is also almost 100% certainty that balloting is still required at Phase 2B or 2C based on distance right? So it is not a clear win benefit for those who stay near but no affiliations with the school.

For not so popular schools, the number of places taken up at 2A should not be high with the current policy, and those staying near but with no affiliations already have a very high chance(or 100% chance) or getting into the school…

The other thing is Phase 2A actually does not make up a big number in most years.

For not so popular schools, Phase 2A doesn't make up a big number. Many of these schools are fairly new, and may not have existed in our time!