[Novena] Primary Schools

[Orange Girl]

:goodpost:

Jav:

Gogglesgirl:

We just have to believe that people generally do the right thing. Life is not always fair. If whichever schools require balloting, we just need to have faith that the system is transparent and there's accountability. The government has already helped to eliminate PRs in the mix, so that Singaporeans have a fair chance. I do believe that if you are within 1km, it is almost certain you will clear. But I can't help but feel sad, in reading some of these posts, that certain people are using close friendships and their position in society as \"ethical\" professionals to obtain confidential data through unethical means, to attack others, just to get a place in a primary school. Let alone the author is a lawyer, who knows the law and potentially break it. Come on, our society is bigger than that... Non- Singaporeans reading this website must be laughing their heads off!! There are many other good primary schools out there and cliche as it may sound, all primary schools in Singapore are good schools. Even if the ballot fails, rather than getting at each others' throats, I feel we as parents should spend more time nurturing the kids and preparing them for the school of life. Don't bear hatred and I know it is easier said than done, but as we all know, life is fair - you gain some, you lose some. All the best in your enrolment.

Very well said!! Thumbs up

[LOLMum]

Orange Girl:

:goodpost:

Jav:

[quote=\"Gogglesgirl\"]We just have to believe that people generally do the right thing. Life is not always fair. If whichever schools require balloting, we just need to have faith that the system is transparent and there's accountability. The government has already helped to eliminate PRs in the mix, so that Singaporeans have a fair chance. I do believe that if you are within 1km, it is almost certain you will clear. But I can't help but feel sad, in reading some of these posts, that certain people are using close friendships and their position in society as \"ethical\" professionals to obtain confidential data through unethical means, to attack others, just to get a place in a primary school. Let alone the author is a lawyer, who knows the law and potentially break it. Come on, our society is bigger than that... Non- Singaporeans reading this website must be laughing their heads off!! There are many other good primary schools out there and cliche as it may sound, all primary schools in Singapore are good schools. Even if the ballot fails, rather than getting at each others' throats, I feel we as parents should spend more time nurturing the kids and preparing them for the school of life. Don't bear hatred and I know it is easier said than done, but as we all know, life is fair - you gain some, you lose some. All the best in your enrolment.

Very well said!! Thumbs up

[/quote]
:goodpost:

[2hotTOhandle]

I don't think there is hatred here per se, but rather a sense of injustice at people who cheat. The tone here is civil and we are just discussing how to eliminate cheats from the system.


I am not sure if your faith is well placed as there are anecdotal accounts/evidence that the system is not foolproof and people have really cheated. At least some of these accounts must be true. Otherwise there would not be this debate in this forum in the first place. One place taken by someone who cheats = one less place for your child.

As for your comment that \"if you are within 1km, it is almost certain you will clear\". I think that is what everyone here is wishing for but at the same time we know it is unlikely to happen in P2C for most schools in Novena as demand is likely to outstrip supply (for reasons aforementioned such as new condos sprouting up in the neighbourhood). And if there is any child living within 1km who does not get a place after balloting, I think most parents here would accept their fate and not be a sore loser if there was faith/actual knowledge that they lost out to bona fide residents living within 1km from the school.

No comments on \"certain people\"...

Gogglesgirl:

We just have to believe that people generally do the right thing. Life is not always fair. If whichever schools require balloting, we just need to have faith that the system is transparent and there's accountability. The government has already helped to eliminate PRs in the mix, so that Singaporeans have a fair chance. I do believe that if you are within 1km, it is almost certain you will clear. But I can't help but feel sad, in reading some of these posts, that certain people are using close friendships and their position in society as \"ethical\" professionals to obtain confidential data through unethical means, to attack others, just to get a place in a primary school. Let alone the author is a lawyer, who knows the law and potentially break it. Come on, our society is bigger than that... Non- Singaporeans reading this website must be laughing their heads off!! There are many other good primary schools out there and cliche as it may sound, all primary schools in Singapore are good schools. Even if the ballot fails, rather than getting at each others' throats, I feel we as parents should spend more time nurturing the kids and preparing them for the school of life. Don't bear hatred and I know it is easier said than done, but as we all know, life is fair - you gain some, you lose some. All the best in your enrolment.

[Gogglesgirl]

Agree. It is what it is and we just have to accept the rules. No different from a soccer game - whether the ball has crossed the line or using hands to score a goal. No different from looking for a job, no different from getting that next promotion. We have all gone down the road too many times. Injustice is always bound to occur, even in the earlier phases of P1 enrolment - trust me. Not going to argue about the technicalities but reading all 90 pages of this post - there is "hatred", like it or not. It saddens me because it makes me wonder if certain people are worthy of even being parents - being vindictive in how we go about our daily business and is this how we are going to teach our kids? I am worried not because someone did/did not manage to secure a P1 place but rather we are regressing from society norms if everything is about "me". I am not trying to be noble here. We all knew the rules from the start - all the different phases. So why should we all be lamenting the system now and blame everyone else but ourselves, when we could have done something from the onstart? For SCGS, if you were a PV/GRL within 2 km, you would gotten in, I believe. Re 1km - we don’t know until next week and again, it is what it is and we just hope for the best. For all you know, it may not be as bad as you think. For me, the drive home (long one by the way) from school is the best time I spend with my kids - we joke, we laugh and we talk about the day at school - no ipads, no TVs, just quality time. So rather than criticising the system, why don’t we draw the positives? And we all know that no system in the world is perfect, as much as people would like to think!

[Jav]

So how many PV in SCGS this year registered?

[ysl76]

Gogglesgirl:

Agree. It is what it is and we just have to accept the rules. No different from a soccer game - whether the ball has crossed the line or using hands to score a goal. No different from looking for a job, no different from getting that next promotion. We have all gone down the road too many times. Injustice is always bound to occur, even in the earlier phases of P1 enrolment - trust me. Not going to argue about the technicalities but reading all 90 pages of this post - there is \"hatred\", like it or not. It saddens me because it makes me wonder if certain people are worthy of even being parents - being vindictive in how we go about our daily business and is this how we are going to teach our kids? I am worried not because someone did/did not manage to secure a P1 place but rather we are regressing from society norms if everything is about \"me\". I am not trying to be noble here. We all knew the rules from the start - all the different phases. So why should we all be lamenting the system now and blame everyone else but ourselves, when we could have done something from the onstart? For SCGS, if you were a PV/GRL within 2 km, you would gotten in, I believe. Re 1km - we don't know until next week and again, it is what it is and we just hope for the best. For all you know, it may not be as bad as you think. For me, the drive home (long one by the way) from school is the best time I spend with my kids - we joke, we laugh and we talk about the day at school - no ipads, no TVs, just quality time. So rather than criticising the system, why don't we draw the positives? And we all know that no system in the world is perfect, as much as people would like to think!

I admire your optimism and I think all the parents here wish that we r safe from the balloting. i am actually very impressed with the objective view that u have expressed in this forum. And I think we should just sit back and see what is going to happen in the next 2 weeks. The system is filled with faults, but then again, it's the best we have for now.
Good luck.

[2hotTOhandle]

SCGS, for one, is v selective of PVs. And as a FTWM I can tell u I do not have the luxury of time to put in PV hours, not to mention being a GRL! The reject rate is high as well. These are facts. If not there would def be more of us in P2B.


I dun think the parents here now discussing about P2C are really lamenting about the system in a truly negative manner. I don't think ppl are whining here, it's more a sharing of thoughts or commiserating with each other's plight in P2C, how the system could be bettered etc. Even if they are whining, it is allowed on this forum?

I beg to differ when you say \"we just have to accept the rules\". I believe that rules can be improved and fine tuned over time. For instance the change in rules to give priority to SC (this is a positive that I recognise). I guess it's because of feedback from the citizens from the ground that pushed MOE to take this significant step. The rule was changed because parents did not believe in status quo for citizens. It can further benefit future kids registering for P1 if the rules encourage more fair play.

I guess you are lucky to be able to spend quality time with your kids when you send them to sch and pick them after sch. My kids will be on the school bus although I live <1km from SCGS. My younger girl always dozes off in the sch bus now and there is no booster seat and I am sure she is in some uncomfortable position in that 30 min that she is sleeping. I know cos my older girl tells me so. So it is important to me that they spend less time on the sch bus. And that is why I moved so close to the school and hope that no one cheats on the system. Can hope right?

Lastly, I don't think it's v nice for u to say \"it makes me wonder if certain ppl are worthy of even being parents\". What is your yardstick?

Gogglesgirl:

Agree. It is what it is and we just have to accept the rules. No different from a soccer game - whether the ball has crossed the line or using hands to score a goal. No different from looking for a job, no different from getting that next promotion. We have all gone down the road too many times. Injustice is always bound to occur, even in the earlier phases of P1 enrolment - trust me. Not going to argue about the technicalities but reading all 90 pages of this post - there is \"hatred\", like it or not. It saddens me because it makes me wonder if certain people are worthy of even being parents - being vindictive in how we go about our daily business and is this how we are going to teach our kids? I am worried not because someone did/did not manage to secure a P1 place but rather we are regressing from society norms if everything is about \"me\". I am not trying to be noble here. We all knew the rules from the start - all the different phases. So why should we all be lamenting the system now and blame everyone else but ourselves, when we could have done something from the onstart? For SCGS, if you were a PV/GRL within 2 km, you would gotten in, I believe. Re 1km - we don't know until next week and again, it is what it is and we just hope for the best. For all you know, it may not be as bad as you think. For me, the drive home (long one by the way) from school is the best time I spend with my kids - we joke, we laugh and we talk about the day at school - no ipads, no TVs, just quality time. So rather than criticising the system, why don't we draw the positives? And we all know that no system in the world is perfect, as much as people would like to think!

[Gogglesgirl]

I agree with you - YSL76. Thanks - these are just my views and wanted to share a different perspective. I am done with registration but yes, good luck and all the best to one and all. I really hope there’s no need for balloting - fingers crossed for all of you.

[ysl76]

I think we veered away from a friendly forum who should have been supportive in times like this. I don’t think I have ever been so stressed in my life… Not even my exams, cos there are so many variables in play. How many siblings, alumni, PV… and now 1km.

[Gogglesgirl]

Then honestly, you have to give credit to those who devoted time to either be PVs or GRLs, because they have made the sacrifices. You didn’t and I know not everyone has time for everything especially in the competitive society we live in. I understand what you mean but at the end of the day, you reap what you sow and like everything else, their places to schools were also not guaranteed but it did put them in a better place/position. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But again, if there is any injustice, I hope these GRLs would not quit the moment their kids get into schools. So, is there any full proof system? - I rest my case.


My comment re "worthy of being parents" - maybe you missed the other 50 odd pages. My point is simply we need to be good role models to our kids, otherwise we won’t be able to progress as human beings and as a nation - how is the next generation going to be better than the last? Our kids’ good moral upbringing are only as good as their parents’ day to day behaviour and teachings - most importantly, practice what we/they preach - we are no saints and we are responsible for their behaviour - at least I take personal responsibility. No yardstick - Make no mistake - we are all willing to die for our kids and do our utmost to help them in their lives but like everything else, there are lines drawn. I was referring to a specific example and apologies if it was too general.