Opinions of the Primary School Registration System
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eelsemaj
Someone analyse the situation as: applied for 2nd choice sch (under 2A2) to secure a place first and then call up 1st choice sch on 2nd day of 2B, if sure get in without ballot, withdraw from 2A2; after noticing some changes in 1 - 2 vacancies in 2A2 & 2B.
But we won’t be able to do a corresponding link between the 2 sch.
So Aitong case could be someone within 1km wanted this sch as first choice but unsure of balloting distance, so registered in 2A2 of 2nd choice sch. After calling sch to cfm no ballot for within 1km, apply here and withdraw elsewhere, leading to 2B reduction.
This is speculation but I guess, if many people are aware of such strategy, more would follow suit. You would see more of such cases in future as compared to this yr about 2 cases for several schs.
As this is speculation, we don’t know how true it is. Take it with a pinch of salt what Aitong said.
But then again, what happens if you are in that person’s shoes? You would want to maximise your chances, isn’t it? -
Although what i am going to say is not totally within this topic context, i feel that parents who had first registered in the earlier phases should be accorded lower priority than those in Phase 2C (ie put them in Phase 2C Supp) if they withdraw later. Because a lot of parents are using this strategy (check the vacancies during the last day of Phase 2C, then withdraw from registration in another school and then registered in their preferred school on the last day of Phase 2C) and hence taking away that vacancy in Phase 2B that could have been given to the unsuccessful PV parents and also increase the competition in Phase 2C.
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Agree with Jedamum.
Actually, shouldn’t phase 2A be subjected to the same distance ruling? So, instead of giving priority to phase 2A, divide the remaining places after phase 1 equally amongst the phase 2A, 2B and 2C. In the case of popular schools like Catholic, AiTong, St. Nic, these does increase the vacancies in phase2B and 2C quite substantially. It is somehow unfair to those who stay close to the school and yet subject to balloting (or 1-2km no chance even to ballot) when someone who stays far away from the school (e.g. I’m aware of: staying in Pasir Ris, kid in AiTong, staying in Ponggol, kid in RGS, staying in Jurong, kid in Pei Chun). With the distance, parents will need to ferry the kid to school by private cars, thus causing the traffic jams along these schools. -
Agree with Red Rhino. The applicants in 2A2 did not make the effort to contribute to the school, Clan/Church, RC and yet is almost guaranteed a place in these schools. Schools should cap the qualifying numbers of these applicants. Eg, only 10% of total intake vacancies at this phase and balloting based on distance. The remaining to be split among 2B & 2C
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jedamum, red rhino, shaz
Someone said getting into Nanyang is a gift to your decendants. When in the 60’s & 70’s, govt accord priority to our mums who ligate (ie stop at 2). It was very effective. Now thinking back, yes, it is a gift for those who are in branded schs. So our mums sacrifice back then, now are the children enjoying the fruits.
To reduce 2A vacancies for 2B & 2C, isn’t it giving rise to artifically staying within 1km (ie by moving house), thereby jacking up home prices?
I think better option is for MOE/sch to maintain their max intake. Branded or premium sch would not suffer from reduced babies. They can reduce the vacancies in neighbourhood sch (ie only cater to those who mind the distance and do not have much disposable income to send their kids for tuition/enrichment coz branded sch teachers don’t teach, they assume parents have money and are already sending them for outside classes. -
Some discussion in ST forum recently regarding giving priority to citizens then PR. I wasn’t aware all these yrs until I read in the forum. I support this idea. This should give rise to more vacancies at 2C.
I understand many PRs take up PV at 2B leading to reduced vacancies for 2C. I feel that 2B & 2C should be merged to allocate base on distance. -
caroline3sg:
Hm...on the same note, perhaps in trying to boost birthrates, the govt can now accord priority to mums who has 2 or more births as at time of registration?
Someone said getting into Nanyang is a gift to your decendants. When in the 60's & 70's, govt accord priority to our mums who ligate (ie stop at 2). It was very effective. Now thinking back, yes, it is a gift for those who are in branded schs. So our mums sacrifice back then, now are the children enjoying the fruits.
caroline3sg:
To reduce 2A vacancies for 2B & 2C, isn't it giving rise to artifically staying within 1km (ie by moving house), thereby jacking up home prices?
Perhaps MOE can come up with a 'formula' which includes the distance and the length of stay in the house when determining priority? Haha..just some wild thoughts.
ChiefKiasu...perhaps you wanna separate these discussion into another thread? -
jedamum:
...ChiefKiasu...perhaps you wanna separate these discussion into another thread?
Good suggestion, but I think I'll just rename the thread as \"Problems with Primary One Registration process\" and leave it as an open ground to let parents voice their concerns over what they perceive as inadequacies in the entire P1 Registration process.
Personally, I thought that the current process is generally sound and fair, but looking at http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/do-you-think-current-p1-registration-process-fair, it is clear that most parents think that there is a need to tune the system.
This came as a surprise to me initially, but I think the problem lies in the fact that the rationale for the current registration policy is not clearly explained by the authorities and supported by hard data. Most people can appreciate the distance ruling, but few choose to accept the rationale for clan or church-related prioritization or even PV. How to gain buy in from the people if authorities do not explain why they are doing things the way they are? It's kind of like LTA putting in all those new gantries or introducing regulations against cabs stopping in the city. We don't see gridlocks or accidents happening before the introduction of these new measures, so how can we appreciate the need for them? Why not show us the data for us to evaluate ourselves?
With respect to the Ai Tong and Pei Hwa cases, I'm not sure what happened or whether it was a misunderstanding, but the idea of having deadlines on Phases is to prevent exactly things like that from happening. If you \"forgot\" to register in time, then you have passed up your chance to do so, and that should be the end of it. No excuse should be accepted either by the school or the authorities, otherwise, the whole system breaks down. -
Hi,
From what I read, what Caroline2sg is saying is that it is ok to be unscrupulous, and that the ends justifies the means.
What about being in the shoes of the parents in Phase 2B??
This incident only shows that applicants in Phase 2A and above are of such high priority that it overrides everyone else. BTW, even the PS for MOE had stated that this should not be the case.caroline3sg:
eelsemaj
Someone analyse the situation as: applied for 2nd choice sch (under 2A2) to secure a place first and then call up 1st choice sch on 2nd day of 2B, if sure get in without ballot, withdraw from 2A2; after noticing some changes in 1 - 2 vacancies in 2A2 & 2B.
But we won't be able to do a corresponding link between the 2 sch.
So Aitong case could be someone within 1km wanted this sch as first choice but unsure of balloting distance, so registered in 2A2 of 2nd choice sch. After calling sch to cfm no ballot for within 1km, apply here and withdraw elsewhere, leading to 2B reduction.
This is speculation but I guess, if many people are aware of such strategy, more would follow suit. You would see more of such cases in future as compared to this yr about 2 cases for several schs.
As this is speculation, we don't know how true it is. Take it with a pinch of salt what Aitong said.
But then again, what happens if you are in that person's shoes? You would want to maximise your chances, isn't it? -
eelsemaj
Perhaps you misunderstand what I meant when I wrote "what happens if you are in that person’s shoes? You would want to maximise your chances, right?" I meant would you do likewise? Give it a thought first before jumping to conclusion. Because now you are in 2B, you stand from 2B pt of view. If you are in 2A, would you spare a thought to those in 2B? In this world, everyone think of self first. I am only highlighting to you.
For your info, I belong to 2C.
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