S'poreans to get priority for P1 places during balloting

[Angelight]

Dear Mr snaw,


I can understand your unhappiness and frustrations at the new ruling even though I'm a SC and proud of my citizenship. But in life, you gain some, you lose some. For many SC like me, this new ruling is long overdue, that's why we all welcome it with great gusto. Hope you don't feel offended at our joy as parents who just want the best for our kids.

I guess in life, one has to make several sacrifices, with some bigger than others. If you and your wife are not willing to give up your foreign passports to become SC, then you just have to accept the consequences that come with it. Just like if I were to go live in UK or Australia, I will also not enjoy the same kind of privileges that the citizens there have.

I think our govt has been very open to foreign talents. Otherwise there won't be a huge influx of foreign talents, PRs here over the past decade. But in a small limited nation like ours, there has come the time when our govt has to put the interests and welfare of SCs first. It's not about ostracising, it's about priorities. And I believe this is the same everywhere in the world.

snaw:

I'm a PR, with a daughter about to enter school next year. I think this change is pretty major, and will have an impact on PR's in Singapore and how they feel about being here.

I could easily send her to an international school, but I'd choose not to for several reasons - the primary one being I want my kids to integrate as much as possible, and I feel international schools have a tendency to produce kids who can be a little arrogant and 'entitled'. It's a common debate among expats, and there are always a significant minority who feel the same way I do.

I'll never go SC, why would I want to? I've no desire to give up my UK passport, and my wife would never give up her Aussie passport. If Singapore keeps forcing the issue with moves like this I'll leave, there are plenty of other countries which would value my skills and aren't quite as hostile as Singapore is starting to appear to be to foreign talent.

Property will be impacted, those areas with good schools in the past had higher property prices for school reasons, now though there's no point when an SC 10KM away will have priority over you.

Schools will be impacted, as mentioned PR's will find it very difficult now to get into good schools. What this will mean for those schools, and the knock on effect on other schools remains to be seen, but clearly it's a game changer. Will some PR's leave because of it, absolutely - education of your kids is an essential part of most peoples lives, and one of the reasons people come to Singapore is because of the reputation of the schools. This move clearly changes that dynamic for PR's.

I understand where this move has come from, and the frustrations of SC's losing out to PR's for school places, I'd feel the same way. But as in all thinks in life there are consequences and while I'm not sure we know fully what these will be with this move, I'm certain there will be some fall out in the longer term not just for PR's but for Singapore in it's global reputation for foreign talent given the main reason most of us come here is as much about family as the financials.

[phtthp]

under 2C > 2km -

many SCs from all over SG (North, South, East, West) directions will fight for a chance enter Tao Nan, via balloting.

if is meant to be yours, is yours.

[blessed777]

friendship:

In USA, parents are not US citizens but if the child is born in US, the child has US passport leh...


Singapore also practise like that right?

Nope.

I heard in US PR get the same right as citizen except for voting. Here a PR is not really PR, need to extend every 5yrs..

[Angelight]

You’re right, phtthp, so competition may be stiffer than before, and it’s now among singaporeans.

[phtthp]

2C > 2km -

competition amongst SCs going to be very intense.
SCs from all over SG can have a shot at super hot schools now.

if luck permit them to ballot in successfully, SCs will figure out how to shift nearer to school, after confirm strike lottery can get in hot school.

[limlim]

snaw:

If Singapore keeps forcing the issue with moves like this I'll leave, there are plenty of other countries which would value my skills and aren't quite as hostile as Singapore is starting to appear to be to foreign talent.

countries like.. your own? (juz a remark, no intention to be sarcastic or anything..)

it may be a political move.. you can't run away from that..

One comment on the hostility.. most are not against real talents who can contribute to the community.. but rather cheap PMET labour from pinoy land, abnn land or tiong land or the like.. who come here in hordes to compete with locals for jobs..

I doubt UK employee or Aussie employees will cost less than locals..

But pinoys, abnn & tiong more often than not will be much cheaper.. plus no NS obligations..

FT is just a general term.. the hostility is most likely not targeted at all FTs.. I doubt the number of European FTs is significant anyway.. compared to pinoy, abnn & tiong land..... to cause any distress to locals..

All along, there have been FTs from other parts of the world and there was never much resentment.. only recently the influx from pinoy, abnn & tiong than got so many complains..

Hence, no need to be bothered by those comments against FTs that you see in other forums..... I feel..

[limlim]

phtthp:

in the past, schools like Tao Nan if you don't stay < 1km, ZERO chance.


now for SC staying > 1km, think got chance ?

I doubt the no. of PRs is significant enough to make a difference..

[snaw]

Angelight:

Dear Mr snaw,


I can understand your unhappiness and frustrations at the new ruling even though I'm a SC and proud of my citizenship. But in life, you gain some, you lose some. For many SC like me, this new ruling is long overdue, that's why we all welcome it with great gusto. Hope you don't feel offended at our joy as parents who just want the best for our kids.

I guess in life, one has to make several sacrifices, with some bigger than others. If you and your wife are not willing to give up your foreign passports to become SC, then you just have to accept the consequences that come with it. Just like if I were to go live in UK or Australia, I will also not enjoy the same kind of privileges that the citizens there have.

I think our govt has been very open to foreign talents. Otherwise there won't be a huge influx of foreign talents, PRs here over the past decade. But in a small limited nation like ours, there has come the time when our govt has to put the interests and welfare of SCs first. It's not about ostracising, it's about priorities. And I believe this is the same everywhere in the world.

snaw:

I'm a PR, with a daughter about to enter school next year. I think this change is pretty major, and will have an impact on PR's in Singapore and how they feel about being here.

I could easily send her to an international school, but I'd choose not to for several reasons - the primary one being I want my kids to integrate as much as possible, and I feel international schools have a tendency to produce kids who can be a little arrogant and 'entitled'. It's a common debate among expats, and there are always a significant minority who feel the same way I do.

I'll never go SC, why would I want to? I've no desire to give up my UK passport, and my wife would never give up her Aussie passport. If Singapore keeps forcing the issue with moves like this I'll leave, there are plenty of other countries which would value my skills and aren't quite as hostile as Singapore is starting to appear to be to foreign talent.

Property will be impacted, those areas with good schools in the past had higher property prices for school reasons, now though there's no point when an SC 10KM away will have priority over you.

Schools will be impacted, as mentioned PR's will find it very difficult now to get into good schools. What this will mean for those schools, and the knock on effect on other schools remains to be seen, but clearly it's a game changer. Will some PR's leave because of it, absolutely - education of your kids is an essential part of most peoples lives, and one of the reasons people come to Singapore is because of the reputation of the schools. This move clearly changes that dynamic for PR's.

I understand where this move has come from, and the frustrations of SC's losing out to PR's for school places, I'd feel the same way. But as in all thinks in life there are consequences and while I'm not sure we know fully what these will be with this move, I'm certain there will be some fall out in the longer term not just for PR's but for Singapore in it's global reputation for foreign talent given the main reason most of us come here is as much about family as the financials.

Hi,

Don't disagree with any of that, as I said I understand where it's came from and from an SC perspective it's a good thing, and I'm sure there'll be some who convert to SC from PR because of it.

Who knows what long term impact it'll have, but one thing that's fairly clear is that from now on PR's are unlikely to get their children into the better schools in Singapore, and that will put off foreigners from being here, some of whom are decision makers at a high level in MNC's, which may (or may not) have future implications.

Personally I think we'll be OK, our preferred school isn't one of the more popular ones as it has a more holistic educational outlook, which isn't as competitive to get into as the more academically focused schools. Though I'm now concerned as obviously all those PR's not getting their preferred school has a knock on effect on the rest, and I'm within the 1-2KM bracket

[hokkiengirl]

daddy2007:

hokkiengirl:

[quote=\"daddy2007\"]

But there will no balloting required for P1 and P2A. so PRs still have an edge

I guess the statement could have been phrased more precisely. In any case, it makes sense for siblings to still go to the same schools via Phase 1, wouldn't it? It would be kinda unfeeling to totally block all PR kids from the schools that their older siblings are attending right now. Think of the logistical nightmare of ferrying kids to different schools. Even if it is an 'edge', it will be one which will vanish in 6 years, after the current batch of primary one students graduates. I think we are gracious enough to look at the big picture.

Apologise that I used the wrong word. I didn't mean to outcast the PRs. What I mean that that PRs in P1 and P2A still enjoy the benefit. Which like you have said it still make sense for current siblings to attend the same school.[/quote]
Thanks for clearing that up, daddy2007!

[hokkiengirl]

FQW:

hokkiengirl:

I guess the statement could have been phrased more precisely. In any case, it makes sense for siblings to still go to the same schools via Phase 1, wouldn't it? It would be kinda unfeeling to totally block all PR kids from the schools that their older siblings are attending right now. Think of the logistical nightmare of ferrying kids to different schools. Even if it is an 'edge', it will be one which will vanish in 6 years, after the current batch of primary one students graduates. I think we are gracious enough to look at the big picture.

:goodpost:

Despite your hokkien-ess you write very well.

Ah, ah, I like to think that it is BECAUSE of my hokkien-ness that I write well. All that passion in herited from my peasant forebears. Anyway, all the psychologists say that speaking multiple languages is good for the brain! (shamelessly patting my own back ) Thank you you for the kind words!