S'poreans to get priority for P1 places during balloting
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VINUASAM:
What happens for those who are doing voluntary work?. First all citizen volunteers (irrespective of the distance) will get admitted, then only look into PR Volunteers? Even if, PR volunteers stay within 1km of the school?
You are talking abt phase 2b for volunteers/religious groups/clan/GRL? Then yes, the available spaces will first go to SC BEFORE distance comes into play. -
wayne lai:
Err, even with the new rule, PR kids still get into our Primary schools when they are YOUNG.The problems we face with non-Singaporeans are due to their poor integration. The best way to integrate PRs into our society is get them into our Primary schools when they are YOUNG!
wayne lai:
If MOE is to cap alumni priority, I for one will think that it's only right they cap P2B as well. Give all these freed vacancies from the earlier 2 phrases to P2C. Why cap one (priority) phrase but not another?With this new law against PRs, only a few more places are released for SCs. If only we were to CAP the number of alumni (e.g. to maybe 25% of available places), allocate the rest based on Phase 2B criteria, proximity, etc, we will have a lot more places available for both SCs and PRs.
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please advice.
i called up PEPS.
i am a SC staying within 1km of this school. belongs to the 2C pharse. the school told me tat based on their pass record 2C they have abt 50-60 vacancies & ard 120-130 registered for this pharse.
i fall under 2C. do you think is a risk to take and try out their 2C balloting? -
Personally, think its okay for government giving priority to alumni for primary school registration? Many schools were then just a ‘new’ (my hubby’s case) school next to his block - that is why he is enrolled.
Of course, competition now becomes tougher as most parents are now better educated and wanted to provide the ‘best’ they can for their child/children. So we tend to scout around for a ‘better’ reviewed school in the neighbourhood.
I am kiasu but within reasonable means. Didn’t move near Chong Fu on purpose. My original preferred home would be in the east but hubby fancied a place (we bought resale; i like the place too) in Yishun which happens to be within 1km of Chong Fu.
Given i always like the east, it is not fully based on taking ‘advantage’ of my hubby’s alumni status to enrol him into a school in Tampines area. I could have gone for St Hilda’s? But no, Gong Shang which is popular but not the most popular could do.
*PS: i am new here; how do i add those cute animation smiley icons huh? sorry for this irrelevant question. -
Yes, this is good news for SC but very bad news for PR.
We are PR since 2008 and my wife was doing voluntary service for last 2 years to get admission (for our only daughter), in one of popular school.
Now, this new rule is so bad for us, that even we have no chance of getting admission in any phase. My wife is feeling that all of her efforts has gone in drain. :imconstipated:
What we have analyzed with this rule, there will be no PR student in all popular schools, except phase 1 and 2A, which would also see no PR student after 5-6 years as mostly siblings will get admission, what after that? when no more siblings left to get admission?
Please think these points
1. If all SC students are in one school and PR in other schools, do SC will send their kids in PR \"dubbed \" schools? :shock:
2. If PR students can not study with SC students how will they know Singapore culture better? :scared:
If we think of getting citizenship, it is very late now and also it is very hard to get citizenship. We can not pay $800+ every month to send our daughter to international school. :frustrated: -
Hi Snaw,
No offence ok
This is what I understand
I understand in UK and US if you were to enrol into a prestigious private school; the school will request for your child to take tests, interviews and consider your family background as well whether you are old boys or girls and what your parents can contribute to the school.
Of course, The public school in UK which we all know that the standard is now a concern will not have registration problem since The elite and well-heeled of the british society do not go to the public school and thus the Etonhouse, Geelong Grammar school in Australia and many others. As such, some of migrated PR's came here as they cannot get into the private ones in their countries and the public ones are worst than Singapore. Other countries like Canada; the better public schools will also have queues and the parents also do PVs and the school does give preferential to citizens (My cousin a canadian been through it). Unlike in Uk, Canada, Hk, Australia, in Singapore the SC cannot choose to attend these private or international school if not I suppose the foreigners (the top ones which the govt. wants to attract) will have issues with the already long wait list at these reputable schools like (UWC, SAS, Tanglin Trust) which only these top foreign talent has immediate access to because of their connections.
I also understand that a lot of companies these days also look into hiring a SC if possible for regional roles. My sister is in a regional role of a MNC and honestly, balancing the child's education well being and work is a challenge due to the frequent travel; this is especially so if both husband and yourself is in a regional role. Our children have to be at the top 20% to get a place in the local U and we do not have the luxury of a subsidised foreign college education waiting for us Also, many people will still choose Singapore because Singapore is much safer than many other countries; we are the very few countries which is bilingual and Singapore is convenient, easy to travel about, has many varieities of food and services to satisfy the different cultures and has less red tape.
For sure with this new ruling, more SC is able to get into school nearer their home. Still, they will be cases of ballot of the SCs in some school which are more popular. Most of my SC colleagues (unless the high management ones) only want a place near their house so that it is easy for the grandparents to help pick the kids up and their kids do not have to wake up early. So, today's news was very encouraging for them.
I guess the little advantage now for SC is fair and will definitely have minimal impact.
Furthermore, most of these professional PRs does not have a long term vested interest in Singapore as at the end of the day; these PRs call other country \"Their Home\". -
I partially agree with you.
It really depends on when these PR kids joined the school system. The later they enter (e.g. in Sec or JC), the less likely they'll stay. Those that come during Uni - forget it. SG will be used as a stepping stone.
At the early Primary level, before they start seeking out their own kind, they will not have much problem integrating. PRCs, Indian nationals, fillipinos, caucasions - they all speak with our singaporean accent when they start school early here.
My basic point is that the Alumni numbers in 2A should be capped. Why hasn't anyone discussed this? I am not against alumni having priority, I am only suggesting a limit to the number of free rides.absolut_vodka:
You are assuming that they want to integrate - but how many really do? Even at my time, (I was from one of the top schools) where there were plenty of indonesians, they formed their own groups and didnt really hang out with us. As far as I know, none of them are still here. They have either gone home (rich indon families) or gone on to study/work/live in US. SG, was only a stepping stone for them - none of them sank roots here...
wayne lai:
My humble opinion is that the Govt has gotten this wrong.
I am a born and bred Singaporean, and I am saddened that we have forgotten our roots on meritocracy and encouraging social mobility based on ability. By discouraging PRs with this move, we are doing our nation a disservice! Let's not forget we started out as an immigrant society, and we will be weaker without talent inflow. The problems we face with non-Singaporeans are due to their poor integration. The best way to integrate PRs into our society is get them into our Primary schools when they are YOUNG!
If you look at the TOTAL number of places allocated in popular primary schools, the problem with NOT enough places is that there is an unlimited allocation for alumni. >90% of alumni who get in during Phase 2A live more than 1km from the school! And alumni often make up more than 30% of the places, and their numbers are increasing yearly.
There is no social equality here, because children coming from these established homes gets a free ticket into the school. At the expense of families who live within 1 - 2km.
With this new law against PRs, only a few more places are released for SCs. If only we were to CAP the number of alumni (e.g. to maybe 25% of available places), allocate the rest based on Phase 2B criteria, proximity, etc, we will have a lot more places available for both SCs and PRs. -
wayne lai:
I don't take this as a law against PRs, but rather, a law FOR SC.My humble opinion is that the Govt has gotten this wrong.
I am a born and bred Singaporean, and I am saddened that we have forgotten our roots on meritocracy and encouraging social mobility based on ability. By discouraging PRs with this move, we are doing our nation a disservice! Let's not forget we started out as an immigrant society, and we will be weaker without talent inflow. The problems we face with non-Singaporeans are due to their poor integration. The best way to integrate PRs into our society is get them into our Primary schools when they are YOUNG!
If you look at the TOTAL number of places allocated in popular primary schools, the problem with NOT enough places is that there is an unlimited allocation for alumni. >90% of alumni who get in during Phase 2A live more than 1km from the school! And alumni often make up more than 30% of the places, and their numbers are increasing yearly.
There is no social equality here, because children coming from these established homes gets a free ticket into the school. At the expense of families who live within 1 - 2km.
With this new law against PRs, only a few more places are released for SCs. If only we were to CAP the number of alumni (e.g. to maybe 25% of available places), allocate the rest based on Phase 2B criteria, proximity, etc, we will have a lot more places available for both SCs and PRs.
Pri sch registration is not based on meritocracy - sec and above is. If a Pr/foreigner child is good, he/she will be able to go to those elite schools in time to come (I'm not sure but GEP doesn't distinguish right, and then there's the PSLE scores). Also, our minister just assured us that all schools are good schools, no? :evil:
Seriously, how many PRs came to Sg with the idea their kids are to attend a particular pri school - if cannot get, they move out? I'm SC so I dunno. But I would hazard a guess that making money is top on their minds. if they can't find a good job, I don't think they will want to stay, even if their child were able to attend a top school here. -
[quote=\"wayne lai\"]
My basic point is that the Alumni numbers in 2A should be capped. Why hasn't anyone discussed this ? I am not against alumni having priority, I am only suggesting a limit to the number of free rides.
alumni topic his hotly debated in another thread, 98 pages :-
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32400 -
Dear Wayne,
Alumni contributes to the school. Be it financially or non financially. At many schools like RGPS, SCGS, ACS, MGS, the Alumni fund certain programmes and even plan and conduct certain extra programe for the children. They are closely bonded. They takes care of one another even they are on the street if they know they are from the same school. Thus, the contribution may not be direct. This also explains why many people wants to get in. Versus one who just lives close by; the parent has put in at least 6 years if not 10 years of their life to the school and also able to share the history of the school.
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