MOE Relooking P1 registration - Too much priority to alumni

[alng]

limlim:

btw.. 45mins for 2km is a bit unrealistic..

This is possible if the school bus goes round and round the housing estate. It depends on the bus route. It also depends on the size of bus. A 40 seater bus will go on a longer route to fetch more kids vs a 12 seater van.

[LOLMum]

MMM:

wearefamily:

I'm intending to register my child in my alma mater. I live 3km away but take only 10min, 15min tops to drive from my house to the school. Am I considered living far away from the school?

So long as the school is not outside your house, it is considered as far

Seriously, we are in the same situation. Kids go to my alma mater which is like 10-15 mins drive away in the morning. But they have 4 direct buses back home and it takes them around 30 mins. We think it's manageable.

We do have a fairly popular school within 1km (5 mins walk) but why should we take the risk when we can get a confirmed place in my alma mater and their overall CCA + academic offering is better???

those living within 1km of your alma mater would dislike you but those living within 1km of your fairly popular school will like you.

just cant please everyone

[keroppi]

MMM:

wearefamily:

I'm intending to register my child in my alma mater. I live 3km away but take only 10min, 15min tops to drive from my house to the school. Am I considered living far away from the school?

So long as the school is not outside your house, it is considered as far

Seriously, we are in the same situation. Kids go to my alma mater which is like 10-15 mins drive away in the morning. But they have 4 direct buses back home and it takes them around 30 mins. We think it's manageable.

We do have a fairly popular school within 1km (5 mins walk) but why should we take the risk when we can get a confirmed place in my alma mater and their overall CCA + academic offering is better???

I'm another one in the same boat. But for me, I think I've made the right decision. I trained my kids to take public transport home from P3 onwards so they are independent and street-smart. So when it comes to Sec school, distance is not a problem for them - they know how to manage their time and can study or read on the train.

[alng]

MMM:

wearefamily:

I'm intending to register my child in my alma mater. I live 3km away but take only 10min, 15min tops to drive from my house to the school. Am I considered living far away from the school?

So long as the school is not outside your house, it is considered as far

Seriously, we are in the same situation. Kids go to my alma mater which is like 10-15 mins drive away in the morning. But they have 4 direct buses back home and it takes them around 30 mins. We think it's manageable.

We do have a fairly popular school within 1km (5 mins walk) but why should we take the risk when we can get a confirmed place in my alma mater and their overall CCA + academic offering is better???

That is why I hope that parents under phases 2B and 2C can understand how parents under phase 2A feel. Looking at the current P1 registration statistics, who dare to take a risk to register the nearest school under phase 2C (which requires balloting) when one has a better (but further) option under phase 2A?

No one system will satisfy all parents. As parents, we just want the best for our kids.

[keroppi]

alng:

MMM:

[quote=\"wearefamily\"]I'm intending to register my child in my alma mater. I live 3km away but take only 10min, 15min tops to drive from my house to the school. Am I considered living far away from the school?

So long as the school is not outside your house, it is considered as far

Seriously, we are in the same situation. Kids go to my alma mater which is like 10-15 mins drive away in the morning. But they have 4 direct buses back home and it takes them around 30 mins. We think it's manageable.

We do have a fairly popular school within 1km (5 mins walk) but why should we take the risk when we can get a confirmed place in my alma mater and their overall CCA + academic offering is better???

That is why I hope that parents under phases 2B and 2C can understand how parents under phase 2A feel. Looking at the current P1 registration statistics, who dare to take a risk to register the nearest school under phase 2C (which requires balloting) when one has a better (but further) option under phase 2A?

No one system will satisfy all parents. As parents, we just want the best for our kids.[/quote]Aye :grphug:

[keroppi]

I see kids in the neighbourhood going up their school buses as early as 6.15 am in the morning. The school is nearby so it means either the bus reaches school early (needs to go on a 2nd shift to pick up office or factory workers) or it takes 1 hr to go around the estate. :faint:

[dorisp]

alng:

That is why I hope that parents under phases 2B and 2C can understand how parents under phase 2A feel. Looking at the current P1 registration statistics, who dare to take a risk to register the nearest school under phase 2C (which requires balloting) when one has a better (but further) option under phase 2A?

No one system will satisfy all parents. As parents, we just want the best for our kids.

IMHO, the discussion here should not always be perceived that it comes from hungry 2B and 2C parents wanting a system to satisfy them.

Judging from the remarks above, there seemed a genuine unhealthy situation under the current system resulting in some alumni and those staying nearby in Phase 2B and 2C faced a problem of inefficiency whereby they each have to travel further than they would idealy have to send their child to school.

Isn't this a sign that the current system needs a major overhaul? :evil:

[alng]

dorisp:

IMHO, the discussion here should not always be perceived that it comes from hungry 2B and 2C parents wanting a system to satisfy them.

Not intended that way. And most SC parents are phase 2A parents under school A but phase 2B/C parents under other schools.

dorisp:

Judging from the remarks above, there seemed a genuine unhealthy situation under the current system resulting in some alumni and those staying nearby in Phase 2B and 2C faced a problem of inefficiency whereby they each have to travel further than they would idealy have to send their child to school.

Isn't this a sign that the current system needs a major overhaul? :evil:

All policies should be reviewed regularly. I am not against a change. A cap at phase 2A is highly probable, not sure if that is considered a major overhaul. But a total elimination of phase 2A is not likely. But first, those policy makers at the top, who are benefitting from phase 2A, must agree to change the policy first.

[dorisp]

alng:

dorisp:

Isn't this a sign that the current system needs a major overhaul? :evil:

All policies should be reviewed regularly. I am not against a change. A cap at phase 2A is highly probable, not sure if that is considered a major overhaul. But a total elimination of phase 2A is not likely. But first, those policy makers at the top, who are benefitting from phase 2A, must agree to change the policy first.

Home school distance is highlighted as one of the important objectives of the current P1 registration system but we understand the authority and many in this thread also fully recognize contributions from alumni.

IMHO, a cap for P2A, perhaps not an overhaul, is one of the best probable solution now to enable the system to continue to serve both original objectives of the system.

[PhoBIA]

keroppi:

I'm another one in the same boat. But for me, I think I've made the right decision. I trained my kids to take public transport home from P3 onwards so they are independent and street-smart. So when it comes to Sec school, distance is not a problem for them - they know how to manage their time and can study or read on the train.

Wow! P3 take own transport? I was thinking of P5, maybe I can upgrade to P4 since its a direct bus home... :boogie: