MOE Relooking P1 registration - Too much priority to alumni

[DesertWind]

ksi:

Well done Desert Wind! :salute: :salute:

Awesomely respectable attitude! :salute: :love:

Thanks ksi, but I suppose for some, it really hurts a lot if they stay so near a hot and popular school, perhaps just downstairs, but they could not even get into it. There are plenty of other examples I can think of eg. in Telok Blangah/Jalan Bukit Merah there is hot and popular Radin Mas. But there are no lack of other schools around that area. So we just got to keep to the distance priority (which makes sense) and go shop for other schools around that area!

[DesertWind]

ksi:

Perhaps it is useful to know what is the average % that constitutes to Phase 2A&B to warrant so much attention. From my own experience, the % is pretty small so perhaps that is why I am not seeing so much issue because the alumni is not taking up a lot of vacancies.

I agree too.

[DesertWind]

ChiefKiasu:

My 2 cents on this issue: It is probably more worthwhile spending our time ensuring that our children are prepared for whatever school that they are registered in, and ensure that they have a balanced study and sports curriculum throughout Primary school. Most parents eventually come to the sobering realisation that registering their children in high-demand schools with strong alumni was only the start of 6 years of sleepless nights worrying whether their children can make the cut.

You are right, Chief, henceforth I shall end my post. :salute:

[DesertWind]

gvyong:

Of course, those who don't have 'worthy' alumni legacies to consider about can afford to suggest for the alumni to be limited to 10-20%.


I find Toh Yong Chuan very mean-spirited. :mad: When he says \"some people\", I wonder if he realise he is saying the children don't deserve to be in their parents' alma maters? Is it the fault of these children that they get priority to enroll in the ACSes, MGSes, SCGSes, Maha Bodhis'es & NYPSes primary schools just becoz their parents happen to studied there?

A better way would be as Precious2.lee suggests, split 50-50% between alumni and non-connections, or proportionate to the amount of public funding the school received from taxpayers.

In the first place, the ACSes, MGSes, SCGSes, Maha Bodhis'es & NYPSes schools were set up to serve their respective communities and stakeholders, and never to serve the general public. But they were either asked or compelled to join the national system and began receiving Gov't aid at some point in time. So, should we fault the alumni of these schools if they want their children to continue the tradition? Barring the few 'freeloaders', most do so because:

1) They are Methodists, Anglicans, Presbytarians, Catholics or Buddhists
2) They are strong in Chinese language & traditions

So those of us who are not have no business to be asking for a place in their schools.

In fact, Gov't would do well to learn what these schools are doing right to continue to attract their alumni over the ages instead of setting up half-baked primary schools, merging and closing them as and when. Set up more HPPSes, RGPSes and Rosyth'es instead of Phua Chu Kang North/South/East/West primaries and we won't have this problem today.

There should be more schools hosting GEPs. All former Chinese stream schools like Pei Tong and Shuqun should be upgraded to SAP status. While we're at it, let's have some madrasahs and a school in Serangoon area upgraded to SAP status, so that our Malay & Indian fellow citizens have chance for 'cultural immersion' experience too.

Sorry, one last one,
:goodpost: :imcool:

[dorisp]

DesertWind:

There is nothing wrong about trying to enroll into popular schools. What is wrong is calling for scrapping of alumni priority etc. just so THEY can get into the school. Selfish own interest at the expense of others which I don't buy. For those with nothing at stake, perhaps they should refrain from joining the discussion to avoid more confusion. For those arguing relentlessly, I am not convinced at all there is nothing at stake therein lies my doubt.

This is a zero sum game hence there are always two sides of 'self interests'.

This is just a discussion on our P1 school registration policy. As concerned parents i thought we are encouraged to put forth our thoughts. Those with experience could share for better improvements in future. There might be some good ideas or suggestions here. Don't see why those not at stake should be refrained or could cause confusion. Don't understand.

[Flowermonaster]

DesertWind:

Jav:

It also seems that too many good schools are concentrating at one area along Bukit Timah stretch. The plannIng should just disperse them all over Singapore. As expected the priority of SG over PR only make minuscule difference to SG but it does impact PR a lot & as a result it actually further dilute the chances of PR blending with SG which is not gahmen intention? The policy now is at such to chuck them at unpopular schools. Please be mindful that there are very smart PR students which can provide challenge to our kids.

Sorry, the PRs know very well why they are holding on to their PR status and not converting to SG status. It is just so obvious, previously the difference are so minor that it has already become painful to SG-reans. The only difference is SG-reans has voting power. This the PRs don't need or want. After all, the gahmen already siding them by giving them all priviledges of SG-reans and YET , their sons no need to do NS.

We are not doubting that the PRs are intelligent and smart, Jav, we are talking about \"priorities\" and \"privileges\" compared to SG-reans here. To get into schools especially with decades of reputation built up over the history of this land.

OK, I am not going to say this all over again. It is just too :mad: :rant: :stupid: :frustrated: :stompfeet: for me. Now that the gahmen already done something about this, lets not go backwards. The world order is different now.

Errrh...I think PR's son need to do NS if I have not heard wrongly. Ok, back to P1 registration. Just heard my neighbour's grand-daughter managed to get into a popular neighborhood school in our area due to the new scheme - priority to SG without even having to ballot. The whole family was relieved & happy & i am glad for them. I remember my time, 12years ago, I have to ballot despite staying within 1km. I was lucky but can't say for others. We are not alumni of that primary school & we are not against Alumni's priority. There are many options for parents. In fact, my initially plan was to register my DS to another not so popular school but DH wanted to give the popular school a try as we can still proceed to register in the other school if we got ballot out. No big deal!
After all the hassle of getting into the popular school, heard that a few parents transferred their DC to the not so popular school after 6mths or so due to stress. :slapshead:

[phtthp]

Laura02:

Has anyone thought to ask if these popular schools themselves would prefer to accept children from their alumni/ church / clan members?

Perhaps, MOE should allow schools full autonomy to decide who to accept and who to refuse. Afterall, its the school who will have the responsibility of educating the child for the next 6 - 12 years.

Great Excellent Post, Laura !!!! :goodpost:

gvyong:

In the first place, the ACSes, MGSes, SCGSes, Maha Bodhis'es & NYPSes schools were set up to serve their respective communities and stakeholders, and never to serve the general public. But they were either asked or compelled to join the national system and began receiving Gov't aid at some point in time. So, should we fault the alumni of these schools if they want their children to continue the tradition? Barring the few 'freeloaders', most do so because:

1) They are Methodists, Anglicans, Presbytarians, Catholics or Buddhists
2) They are strong in Chinese language & traditions

So those of us who are not have no business to be asking for a place in their schools.

In fact, Gov't would do well to learn what these schools are doing right to continue to attract their alumni over the ages instead of setting up half-baked primary schools, merging and closing them as and when. Set up more HPPSes, RGPSes and Rosyth'es instead of Phua Chu Kang North/South/East/West primaries and we won't have this problem today.

Great Excellent Post, gvyong!!!! :goodpost:

Going forward, there will come a time one fine day where MOE decide to relinquish control to certain schools, give only certain schools autonomy. It won't apply to All schools, but to certain schools only. These schools will be given full autonomy & full control how they want to run. These will be schools with very heavy culture from many stakeholders contribution for a great number of years from many past established generation & past decade like - Nanyang, ACS Barker, ACS Junior, Rosyth, Henry Park, Pei Hwa, SCGS, MGS, RGPS, CHIJ St Nicholas, CHIJ Toa Payoh, Ai Tong, Catholic High, Tao Nan, Nan Hua, Kong Hwa, Nan Chiau, Chongfu, Maha Bodhi, Mee Toh - will know whose children to select / admit for P1 admission ! We look forward to the birth of this day ! :rahrah:

DesertWind,
some schools had already abolished P2B PV scheme.
support you - advocate more schools to continue follow Rosyth example.

while other schools are still taking in Parent Volunteer, Rosyth had already abolished it. This goes to show that MOE had already given full autonomy, full control to certain schools (Rosyth example) how she want to select or reject students for P1 admission. In Rosyth case - she had explicitly abolished Parent Volunteers scheme. More popular schools will follow Rosyth example, going forward.

DesertWind:

Jav:

Everyone is entitled to their own view considering the circumstances they are under. Of course, if your alumni is not good, naturally you wOnt be pride to have your kids or grand kids to enrol in your alma mater. But the current policy is already at such that the school at the end no longer have any vacancy for non priority kids (ie. alumni, PV, GRL etc). A policy is normally designed to regulate issues & provide guidance in the registration so that all are in order, which maybe valid at the time. Does it still valid now since the situation has changed? We all know that many families staying v far travel 1 hr to school while families stay next door / 5 mins need to travel maybe 45 mins to the other part of SG for another school. It's time to relook at the policy carefully to achieve desire balance.

Agree to bold, Jav. I advocate getting rid of P2B, PV scheme (what utter exploitation of parents' precious time!), GRL (ridiculous!) and other non-alumni affiliations (gate open TOO wide - need to cap). Leave alumni priority untouched. In fact, for some schools, siblings priority seems to be the one phase taking up a LOT of vacancies.

[nms1]

DesertWind:

Jav:

It also seems that too many good schools are concentrating at one area along Bukit Timah stretch. The plannIng should just disperse them all over Singapore. As expected the priority of SG over PR only make minuscule difference to SG but it does impact PR a lot & as a result it actually further dilute the chances of PR blending with SG which is not gahmen intention? The policy now is at such to chuck them at unpopular schools. Please be mindful that there are very smart PR students which can provide challenge to our kids.

Sorry, the PRs know very well why they are holding on to their PR status and not converting to SG status. It is just so obvious, previously the difference are so minor that it has already become painful to SG-reans. The only difference is SG-reans has voting power. This the PRs don't need or want. After all, the gahmen already siding them by giving them all priviledges of SG-reans and YET , their sons no need to do NS.

We are not doubting that the PRs are intelligent and smart, Jav, we are talking about \"priorities\" and \"privileges\" compared to SG-reans here. To get into schools especially with decades of reputation built up over the history of this land.

OK, I am not going to say this all over again. It is just too :mad: :rant: :stupid: :frustrated: :stompfeet: for me. Now that the gahmen already done something about this, lets not go backwards. The world order is different now.

This is off-topic but 2nd generation PRs do have to do NS.

[Imami]

DesertWind:

I actually think perhaps KSP forum should do more to highlight the various strengths of ALL the neighbourhood schools to help parents instead of just focusing on those ultra-popular ones. It will certainly help a lot more parents given the wide choices available (that is, if they do not insist on coveting those popular schools).

Yes, of course but there is hardly much for hungry/clueless parent like me who wants/needs to know more. I need as much information as I can get on 3 schools in order for me to make an informed decision for registering my child but alas, only one school has a lot of postings/comments on its thread and that is the branded one. :slapshead:

[Imami]

DesertWind:

Did I say snatch? :?

Did I mention that you say “snatch”?

DesertWind:

For those with nothing at stake, perhaps they should refrain from joining the discussion to avoid more confusion. For those arguing relentlessly, I am not convinced at all there is nothing at stake therein lies my doubt.

This is a public forum. People who speak up, whether or not they have a stake, are just contributing their views. Some are thought provoking. At least two folks here who have posted on this thread have their youngest kids already in primary schools. What good do they enjoy whichever way the policies change?