zac's mum\" post_id=\"1981330\" time=\"1592489015\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1981330 time=1592489015 user_id=53606]
It could be simply, timetabling reasons.

Cos in a Primary 2 class, during MT periods, all the kids will go to their respective MT classrooms/teachers. If she were to go to a Primary 1 MT lesson, it would be hard to find a P1 teacher & class who has MT at those exact same times!

What u propose is still doable, if the school is willing to make special arrangements for her, Eg. Maybe during MT periods she has to read a book or draw quietly somewhere, maybe under supervision in the library. Or even sit in with the P2 MT class (but not participate?) And then the P1 teacher has to give her extra (remedial-type) lessons after school. But wouldn’t these remedial lessons damage her self-esteem too? Tough call.

Have u managed to find another more compassionate school with vacancies?[/quote]

If only the school is as reasonable & is as open for discussion as you. 😤

As for doing remedial Chinese, im sure my youngest would understand very well why that is so. But they are asking her to redo her Maths & English as well. That would set her back for 1.5 years. So what the adult is trying to tell her is that they don’t care about her past efforts nor her past achievements, she just has to be penalized for all due to one subject. I’m not sure how others would feel but if I’m in her shoes, I won’t be happy either. 😤

The admin officer shut me up by saying that other schools would asked the same of us. She proclaimed that I’m not the only returning overseas Singaporeans. She seems to be taking this rather personally, in my opinion :rant:

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1981328\" time=\"1592488683\" user_id=\"2964:

Almostanangel\" post_id=\"1981327\" time=\"1592487446\" user_id=\"186142:

..
she asked if she’s not good enough?! 😰

Did she really ask that? Did someone tell her very firmly before that she would be joining pri 2, and then now that she is offered pri 1, she thinks it is a downgrade? Otherwise how would she know that in Singapore, her age group goes to this thing called Pri 2?

I am not sure of what goes on behind timetabling, but I guess maybe there are logistics issues. Like maybe the pri 1 classrooms are not near pri 2 classrooms. To join the pri 1 during Chinese class may mean walking to another classroom that is not beside her pri 2 classroom.

She does go to school & she knows very well which grade she is attending. As her school is with the British curriculum, she’s at Year 3 in her current school. I have explained to her before that as Spore has a different school system with the UK, she would actually be in Year 2 (Primary 2) when we are back onto the red dot. & inevitably she understood what the Admin officer was saying to me as we were discussing.

As for the walking part, I’m pretty sure my daughter won’t mind the distance. Besides, surely it would still be within the school grounds.

Hi all,


Has anyone any Primary One textbooks for hands down? I’m happy to pay for them if you have any. We might only be here for a short term hence am thinking of hands down books rather than buying the brand new ones. Pls let me know your thoughts. Many thanks

Thank you for all the constructive opinions.


The younger one is stuck with somewhat the same dilemma. The neighborhood school is expecting her to re-sit her primary 1 as her Chinese is not on par with her peers. As much as I understand where the school is coming from, what I don’t understand is that why can’t she simply joins her age appropriate (she’s 8j class & joins the Primary 1 for her Chinese lesson? I’m not asking for the moon & I think what I have proposed is doable. Getting her to redo her Primary 1 when the rest of subjects are up to scratch is not only a waste of time, it’s also non challenging for her. It’s relatively demeaning & she’s doubting her own self worth too. I think if the school is supportive of returning overseas Singaporeans, they really shouldn’t make it this difficult. I do earnestly thing my request is not an unreasonable one, or am I wrong? I have asked the MoE but I guess in a nutshell, they are saying it's really between me & the individual school. I’m really torn & that poor little one felt hurt.... she asked if she’s not good enough?! 😰

Thank you all for the replies.


I have checked with the MOE but they said she would not be eligible for SPERS?!
She is in Pri 5 this year , though physically not in SG as yet ... she is expected to return by August. So, let’s presume she would have 3 months left to Pri 5 for this year calendar... I can’t possibly have her sitting for PSLE by next year?! Hence I brought up SPERS ... the staff whom I spoke to said that’s for students who have finished Pri 6 & waiting to get into a secondary school. So, where does that leave me? He said either my oldest re-sit Pri 5 or finishes her Pri 6 overseas ... that’ s asking me to choose between a rock & a hard place! 😑


Thank you simkhoo for the thread .... I read through all the 50 pages 🤢😆

What’s SPERS-sec exam? Sorry, pardon my ignorance. & how should I go about doing that? Can I assumed you have been there & done that?

Thank you for the replies. Yes, I see all your valid points.


Thank you for spending time & lending me your hands / views. I have been lucky finding a forum like this.

I will be writing emails to those individual schools which ph mentioned & hopefully I will see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Have a good Sunday & stay safe.

Hi phtthp,


Thank you very much for your input as well as the thoughtful emails you have included.
It helps a big lot, esp for someone as clueless as me 😓. What you mentioned, makes sense & has eased my worries considerably.

Don’t know if I could rant it here or not but the ah lau has been depressed ...not solely becoz of my issues but it probably didn’t help either ... he has been relatively stressed out ... he would very much like to put the kids into GESS (the German international school). I have assured him that Spore local school system is very up to scratch but I guess when I have sugarcoated that getting into RGPS which I have been an alumni myself shouldn’t be a problem ... & when it turns out that it wasn’t as easy as I naively wish it to be ....that delicate ah lau is freaking out .... he said to be honest, without a higher pay than now, he wont be able to afford GESS. I asked if he would have a problem with local schools , he said he’s fine in general , just that he has always hoped that he could offer them a better education & he felt like a failure when he can’t! I think at this speed, his depression aient gonna get any better! & speaking about depression, perhaps he should just get a Q number after me ...after all, i do seems to have that bigger fish ! Oh gosh, I’m ranting ........ 🤭

Thank you phtthp again. I will try my luck with the schools you have indicated. You have been a star! Thank you 🌹

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1980659\" time=\"1592029726\" user_id=\"28674:

Almostanangel\" post_id=\"1980648\" time=\"1592028563\" user_id=\"186142:

Thank you for your views. They have been useful. I didn’t quite think of that myself ...having a bigger fish in my pan, there are things I obviously overlooked.

& yes, the culture shock would be inevitable. They have been to Singapore for holidays but have never lived here. I have expressed my preference of CHIJ to the MOE staff & the staff came back claiming there aient any vacancies. They have been in international schools since young due to dad’s work & we were relocated out of his home country.

The older kid would be in Primary 6 next year & im seriously in a dilemma. Placing her in a local stream, knowing very well her Chinese is not there, doesn’t seems to be too wise a choice! Trying very hard to be a responsible yet clueless parent is tricky! I don’t think it’s fair to be eh6xpecting her to pass her PSLE with flying colors when she barely scratched the surface of Chinese! We are toying with the idea of international schools here in SG but realized that they are of hefty sums which without an expat package is near to impossible with 2 kids!

They are both very sociable (the younger one is more so than the older as she has an extra funny bone in her 😂) & sensible. They didn’t seems to mind which school they would be going to & I have always thought that going to local schools in SG would be a piece of cake! But apparently being a Kaisu parent & obviously wanting the best for your child , somehow it’s difficult for me to simply settle an anyhow school for them! I hope I make sense?! 😤

Sorry to hear of your medical issues. I don't have any knowledge of the schools you mention, so can't help you there.

Have you considered applying for exemption from Mother tongue for your kids? You have a good case, especially for your PSLE child. Ask the school how to apply once you have settled on one.

It will be quite an adjustment for your kids since they've been in international school all this while. I came back to Singapore when my kids were 14 and 16, and they had been in international school as well. The main thing is to help them have a positive attitude to the impending changes, but don't sugarcoat things unrealistically.

Ask here if there are adjustment things you are concerned about as there are quite a few returnees here.

Thank you. Yes, I think I might just do that.

Are your kids happily settled by now? I’m just unsure if I’m doing the right thing. Though my long term plan has always been coming back to SG for good but due to unforeseen circumstances, it has happened sooner than planned ...I just felt bad that i have to implicate my children due to my own poor health! I am torn but selfishly, I can’t bear to leave them behind!

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1980656\" time=\"1592029267\" user_id=\"2964:

Almostanangel\" post_id=\"1980648\" time=\"1592028563\" user_id=\"186142:

The older kid would be in Primary 6 next year & im seriously in a dilemma.

They didnt ask for her to drop one year? My friend’s kid dropped one year because of Chinese and PSLE. Now I cannot remember which year it was prob something like, kid is supposed to be p5 but asked to join. If yours is supposed to be p6, they let her join p6?

Oh they would?? I’m back in SG with the little one (8year old).... I was applying only for her at the moment as the older one is still in Germany with the dad. The international school will officially reopen next week. She would join in mid July, after she finishes her final Y5 term. So, technically, I have not apply for the older girl as yet.

Did your friend’s child did what was suggested? Were they happy with the end results?