Emeritus Senior Minister Goh warns that elitism threatens to divide the inclusive society Singapore is seeking to build … in his recent speach.


Isn’t this happening when P1 registration at popular schools having its doors (almost) closed to the non-connected? By the time it reaches Phases 2B and 2C some of these schools are left with few seats. Only a lucky few outsiders get admitted. I think this screams elitism.

I thought this irony might be of interest … not walking the talk perhaps.

Comments …

limlim:

balletmum:

So what is a fair and flawless system? Every child ballot or DSA at P1? Just curious. :?

There need not be a fair and flawless system.

But there is a BETTER system.

One that best serve the nation as a whole, and not just any particular group by connection or relationship.

Even if a policy might appear to be slightly bias toward the rich (at this moment, still a questionable hypothesis), if can potentially better serve the best interest of the overall community, why not?

For example, sibling priority. Our country is desperate for babies (or so it seems the message that the govt is giving?). Produce more babies, the state helps you and provide some assistance, priority admission to 1st kid's primary school for subsequent kids. Why not? :evil:

Just adding my thoughts ...

I do agree with the sibling priority (as indicated in the beginning of my post, maybe it could have been more prominent ...... Phase 1, I believe have almost unanimous support and should remain as it is.)

As for the distance priority - my concern is this could be taken advantage of by the rich and affluent. Moving closer to the school is an option for them to capitalize on. As oppose to the those that can't afford to do so putting them in a disadvantaged position. I wouldn't say this is fair. Implementing some kind of checks (e.g. MOP) is just to tedious and having to monitor this is just ... too much.

Thanks for chiming in …. This is definitely a touchy topic.


I’m just curious and if someone can enlighten me ……

Contrary to the true meaning in what we as SC recite in the pledge … regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality …. This P1 registration is clearly unfair. This has resulted in discontentment and the issue is definitely not a new thing. It affects parents year after year for as long as I can remember. Isn’t this clearly wrong to begin with? There are many others that feel the same so I’m not sure why MOE hasn’t done anything to address this or is this not an issue that warrants looking into. I guess the reiteration that there are enough P1 places for all is the answer year in year out. I got to experience the brunt of the issue (this year) like many before me and I would probably think that the next batch of parents will get to go through this when their turn comes.

Apart from the annual media coverage like the newspapers, the televised coverage of this topic (e.g. talking point hosted by Daniel Martin), MPs raising this in parliament, complains over forums like KSP, complains accumulated from various channels, etc. there seems to be little traction of this ever getting changed. I’m not sure it this topic was raised or discussed in the national conversation. Maybe this is the channel to finally get noticed? Isn’t the feedback from the ground loud enough for the people with authority to take notice? I’m just baffled.

Have a good one this super long weekend!

This forum is about Opinions of the Primary School Registration System and everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. Everyone has their thoughts and some has chosen to share it here.


Phase 1, I believe have almost unanimous support and should remain as it is.

Phase 2A - Unfortunately, it appears that there is a huge discontentment for applicants in this phase. There is also split views among different individuals. This privileged group has birth rights to an unlimited allocation of places allowing for an almost guaranteed place for its applicants. To those who have this connection it is obvious that you want to protect it and do not want it changed. However, to the others, it is clearly an unfair advantage. I shared my thoughts earlier having this more palatable by agreeing that 2A should have its availability of places caped (i.e. after phase 1, available places are distributed equally among phases 2A, 2B & 2C).

I think phase 1 and 2A promotes elitism and in-breeding, especially in popular schools. I suspect that there will soon be a time, down the road, when there will be no places available for the subsequent phases (all taken up by phase 1 and 2A).

Phase 2B is somewhat similar, with some supporting it and some don’t. It appears that fewer grievances are observed here. It is maybe because this group has a limited allocation of places.

If every school in Singapore is a good school homogeneously, then we won’t have this issue. I don’t feel that MOE is working towards making this happen any time soon. This system is clearly not meritocratic and is obviously based on having connection. Honestly, to be a truly inclusive society and have a fair P1 registration system, every applicant should be given an equal chance. Do away with the connected having priority including distance priority. 1 single phase and everyone can apply to. I’m however subscribing to SC having absolute priority, this should remain.

My 2-cents.

USAIK5:

qms:

[quote=\"paradit\"]It means phase will be purely for foreigners and first cum first basis ?

If you read the MoE website carefully, nowhere is it mentioned that SC and SPR will be given priority for balloting in Phase3. Which means that if you are balloting in Phase 3 it will be along with all those who have applied including foreigners.
If someone has experienced this before and feel this is not the case please let me know.[/quote]I think it does for phase 3. Only after phase 3 then no balloting (first come first served).

I've provided the link, hope it helps.

Phase 3
Places will be balloted according to the following order of priority:
a.Children who are Singapore Citizens
b.Children who are Singapore Permanent Residents
c.Children who are not Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents

Within each of the above categories, balloting will be conducted if applications exceed the number of vacancies. For categories (a) and (b), balloting will be conducted according to the order of priority based on the home-school distance category for Phases 2A to 2C Supplementary. For category (c), if the number of applications exceeds the number of places, priority will first be accorded to a child with a sibling already in the primary school, followed by a child with at least one parent who is a Singapore Citizen. Thereafter, balloting will be conducted regardless of home-school distance.

Balloting will be conducted one day after Phase 3 registration.

The parents of children who have not been able to obtain a place at their school of choice after the balloting can approach another school with remaining vacancies to register. Registration will be done on a first-come-first-served basis.

http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/primary-one-registration/allocation/

It is unfortunate that the balloting exercise is used to determine who gets a place and who won’t. In the end, it is what it is. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat like any competition are clearly evident in the balloting. If you didn’t get in, after feeling upset and sulking about it, tell yourself that it is time to let it go. Pull yourself up, chin up and don’t despair because life will have to go on. Proceed to Phase 2CS. Start looking at what schools have vacancies and plan out the options that are available to you.


Further down the road, transfer opportunities may be presented to you so in the meantime do what it takes to facilitate this. Register in the wait-list, get plugged-in and network at the school, etc.

All the best.

all the best in the balloting today.

Blessedwife:

No.... It not the parents who do the spinning


And also what makes some ppl think that parents have the authority to do the spinning or even suggest to give the cage a hard spin ??

Damn funny

regardless who does ths spinning, i don't see anything wrong with standing up and raising this concern and making a suggestion. a request for a more vigarious or energitic spin of the equipment allowing for a better shuffling to ramdomize the balls is an absolutely reasonable ask.

Timduncan:

not involved in any balloting today....but juz curious, who spins the balls? randomly chosen parents, or is there a system?

i believe it defers from school to school.

in my case in phase 2B, parents were invited to assist. one parent did the spinning & drawing tha ball and another parent made the announcement and projecting the number on the ball to the screen for all to see.

all the best to those balloting today.