MOE Relooking P1 registration - Too much priority to alumni

[Phase 2C]

I would like to share and feedback some of the problems faced by the Phase 2C applicants when they are applying a place in their preferred school.


According to the Lianhe Zaobao article "Zaobao survey: Most parents think the Primary 1 registration system should be changed" dated 14.6.2012, the priority given to the alumni and parents volunteer in Phase 2A and Phase 2B had drawn the most criticisms. Since the implementation of Phase 2A and Phase 2B in 1999, a lot of parents have been complaining that even though their preferred schools are within 1 or 2 km from their homes, they have not been successful in getting a place for their child. These problems have been long standing and have resulted in much grievances and frustration among some parents.

According to the current primary 1 registration system, the school will take in all the applicants qualified under Phase 1 and Phase 2A. Thereafter, the remaining vacancies will be allocated equally to the applicants qualified under Phase 2B and Phase 2C. As evident from past years primary 1 registration statistics, half or more of the vacancies in most popular schools and including some neighborhood schools, had been taken up by applicants under Phase 1 and Phase 2A. Leaving behind only very limited vacancies to be shared among the applicants under Phase 2B and Phase 2C.

In order to avoid this unfair situation whereby only very limited vacancies are left after Phase 2A, I urge the MOE to review the priority of certain groups and also restrict the children whose parents are non active alumni members under Phase 2A. The proposed adjustments to Phase 1 and Phase 2 are as the follows:

1) Phase 1 (for a child who has a sibling studying in the primary school of choice) to remain and renamed as Phase 1A

2) Introduce NEW phase 1B to include the following groups previously in Phase 2A :

– 2A(1)(b) For a child whose parent is a member of School Advisory / Management Committee. Priority given is to acknowledge the active school involvement of these parents.

– 2A(2)(a) For a child whose sibling has studied in the primary school of choice. Priority given is to be consistent with the current Phase 1 - sibling priority.

– 2A(2)(b) For a child whose parent is a staff member of the primary school of choice. Priority given is to acknowledge the active school involvement of these parents.

3) With the above reclassification to NEW Phase 1B, the following groups stay put in Phase 2A :

– 2A(1)(a) For a child whose parent is a former student of the primary school and has joined the alumni association as a member not later than 30 June in the year of Primary 1 registration

– 2A(2)(a) For a child whose parent has studied in the primary school of choice

4) Once Phase 1A and NEW Phase 1B allocation are completed, I suggest the MOE to allocate the remaining vacancies equally amongst Phase 2A, Phase 2B and Phase 2C (except for Phase 2C supplementary). In the case where the number of applicants in each phase exceeds the vacancies, the school will have to conduct balloting exercise and priority will be given based on proximity from home to school.

These proposed changes will have the following benefits:

1) As reported in the above mentioned Zaobao survey, some parents think that the alumni priority is a disguised form of "patrimonialism". That is because as long as there was a family member who had studied in the school of choice, the family members of all the future generations would definitely have a place in that school of choice. In addition, if priority is given to alumni on an enlarged basis, the school will suffer from lack of diversity.

2) One of the important points to consider in choosing a primary school is the distance between school and home. Choosing a school near the home would mean shorter traveling time, lower transport costs and more opportunities for the parents to take part in school activities and henceforth contribute to the school.

3) Equal allocation of vacancies amongst Phase 2A, Phase 2B and Phase 2C will ensure direct and fair competition. Only under fair competition will the unsuccessful Phase 2C applicants ‘admit defeat’ willingly.

While parents applaud the recent changes by the MOE to give Singapore citizens absolute priority over permanent residents in the various registration phases, some parents think the MOE should make further changes. The main reason being that very limited vacancies are left for the ever increasing number of Phase 2C applicants.

I hope that the MOE will look into the problems of Phase 2C applicants, while trying to retain the personal interest of applicants in other phases, so as to let the Phase 2C applicants have a fair chance to compete.

[Phase 2C]

limlim:

Applies to the alumni at the expense of those who stay near the school.

The same argument applies.. if the school aren't popular, would alumni be so keen to hog that place for their offspring?

Let's be honest and face it.. the desire is for the popularity. Not bcoz it is alma mater. There is plenty who gave up alma mater priority, so this, is fact, that alma mater is not something desirable by all or majority.


For the complain against others fighting for places in one's alma mater instead of going to their own..

By the same argument, Why don't parents focus on school in their backyard instead of fighting with others for the school in other people's neighborhood?

Next, there is ALWAYS a NEAREST SCHOOL for EVERYONE. but NOT EVERYONE have an existing Alma mater. So it is NOT fair to have alumni priority because not everyone has it.

:goodpost:

[zoolet]

Would you think the policy will change for alumni? Where will the MPs and top government officials place their kids? Aren’t most of their kids in the so call "famous" school? Giving priority to be given to those stay near the schools, it will be a great news for property owners around these school. PSF will jack up. It will be the best marketing gimmick for agents. How will the parents feel when their children did not get in to the school nearby (due to many parents moving in to nearby properties) and yet they had invested significant amount of money over the house that takes years to break even? There is no perfect way of resolving this registeration issue. The first is the fight with the old boys/ old girls which is usually made up of 20% except for one particular famous boy school (usually have > 30% of old boys). The latter is the fight between the rich and poor. The latter has been happening around the world. We can find in famous Universities, such as Harvard, Oxfford, Imperial etc. As long as your dads are rich/ powerful, even you have average results, you can get into these famous schools. Can you default these people?

[Phase 2C]

To ensure fair competition, vacancies after Phase 1 should be allocated EQUALLY amongst Phase 2A, Phase 2B and Phase 2C.

[tankee]

Mod's Note


This thread has been locked.

Kindly continue to voice your opinions and suggestion of Primary School Registration System over at this thread

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18535