All About Parent Volunteers (PV)

[shaynamommy]

Hey, 3 boys, you are already very lucky to be selected as PV. I have doubts about the transparency of the PV selection process too. But I guess I am not an investment guru, BIg 4 accounting firm partner nor hotshot TV actor, hence, it is unlikely that my application would be accepted.


Come to think of it, doesn't the PV scheme and the general P1 registration process promote elitism? Look at the type of students who can make it to the top famous primary schools in Singapore
1. The ex-students of the famous schools (who should be doing well since they are from a good school);
2. children of the successful and famous since only their parents are likely to be selected as PV ;
3. those who can afford to stay within 1km of the famous schools (which has thus boosted the real estate prices in the locality).

Sour grapes indeed, but this is indeed the heartache of many parents from the non-elite group. I guess life is never fair, so too bad....

[titank]

3Boys:

Here is my little missive on the PV scheme as promised to CKS. If I have stated anything factually untrue, please feel free to correct.


'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldiers knew
Some one had blunder'd: 
Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred. - Tennyson

Why do we PV? (Pick the MOST applicable answer)
1)\tWe are interested in what goes on in the school
2)\tWe have nothing better to do with our time
3)\tMOE needs our help due to tight budgets
4)\tWe are masochists
5)\tWe believe it’s the most self sacrificial thing we can do for our children
6)\tBecause everyone else is doing it

I wonder if anyone has ever looked backed at the history of how PV evolved over the years and how it has now become institutionalised slavery that bears no logic whatsoever in terms of determining the ‘merits’ of whether a child is ‘deserving’ on entry into a particular school. As I understand it, school PV, in its earliest days, was far more ad-hoc with school principals having a lot of leeway in setting PV guidelines and admissions. In the wild-wild west, stories of offers of cash donations to secure admissions to ‘premiere’ schools were rife; PVs were ‘guaranteed’ places etc. The concept of PV was not invented by MOE but rather by the schools and colluding parents.

I guess the MOE would have been alarmed at such developments in what is ostensibly a meritocratic society, where fame and fortune (of one’s parents) should not be a lever to gain preferential admissions to favoured schools.
Hence begun the codification of an illogical policy. In Singapore, if something has a governmental stamp on it, has a few lines of rationalisation spouted by a mid-level official, it suddenly becomes gospel and irrefutable. If one examines the logic of the PV system and its stated aims, it’s got more holes than Swiss cheese.

Who are we really trying to help and what is the best way to do it?
I had an acquaintance that did 80 hours of PV (guess which school?) as a traffic warden to secure entry for her sons. She was a partner in a big accounting firm, and 80 hours worth of her fees and salary I think would have paid for traffic control for 3 schools for the period she covered, and probably of better quality than she managed in her court shoes. Not to mention the travel time, re-arranged meetings and lost productivity. Really, who’s kidding who? What can you learn about a school by holding up a stop sign? It really going to change your mind about sending your child there? The school really does better with you as a part time traffic cop as opposed to hiring someone full time?
So, if one were to say that the contribution to the school were a main criteria, why not allow the parent to hire somebody to do the job? One could easily argue that if one could hire a gardener for 80 hours to spruce up the school environs, or a hire an IT firm to work on upgrading a school network, that would qualify equally if not more than a parent himself taking a stab at the job and maybe making a hash of it. This is obviously not allowed, for the reasons of equity as stated above.

Does the PV scheme really serve the aim of allowing the parent to learn about the school or the school to benefit effectively from the parents’ contributions? Indeed, I get the sense that schools would prefer not to have the hassle of having to deal with a PV scheme. For instance, many schools do not have PV, some set the bar ridiculously high to deter too many applicants, some limit to very small numbers of activity (traffic control). But they do it anyway, because there is a demand (from KS parents) for schools to allow them some headstart in P1 registration. For me, this is real indication that schools can happily do without PVs.

There is also the question of equity. A forumer questioned the transparency of the process in selecting PVs. I think the principals try their best but there is certainly opacity in the process and a lack of consistency. I was ‘fortunate’ enough to have been invited to PV at Nan Hua and FMPS, which by accounts on this forum, is a bit like striking lottery (I hadn’t realized it would be such a big deal at the time I applied and consider it a bit of an irony that I should be considered ‘lucky’ to give away 40 hours of my time). I would say it was on the basis of certain skills I had and some of my background, but it also meant that others without the same skills and background, or availability of time, would be disadvantaged. I find that very disturbing.

So if you are wondering about the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ at the beginning of the post, its really my whole sentiment about the PV scheme. I started on it because everyone else was piling in, and because I could, not because I believed there was any intrinsic value in it. Its one of those things that parents think it's their 'duty' to perform, without really questioning the underlying rationalisations. Its almost as if it were an artificial competition created by the parents, for the parents, to see who can endure more pain or have th greater means, so as to give their child a priority registration. As such, I can only say I think it belongs in the scrapheap of failed MOE policies. One which causes angst and uncertainty, is opaque, inequitable and frankly illogical in its aims.

Having said that, I have to say I enjoyed my PV time at FMPS. The school admin was generally helpful and interacting with the schoolkids was a joy. So, nothing against the school and the activity, but on the whole would have found better use for my 40 hours!

Hi 3boys,

Wow indeed lucky for you to get into PV of FMPS which is my 1st choice of Primary School selection at last year. Too bad they very fast reject me & lucky I have another 2 schools to perform as PV.

[keen.06205toshare]

Hi all,


Any parents here you have done PV for St.Hilda's ? Looks like they don't have a standard application form ?? How is their response time with PV applications.

thanks

[RRMummy]

Just wondering...


err.. if touchwood I kena ballot (extra by 2 kids) at Phase 2B and not successful.. then later find out that some people de-register from the Phase 2B from that school to go into Phase 2C in another school..

will the school call me up to offer the place (privilege to return to the closed Phase 2B)?

Or put the vacated seats to Phase 2C directly for all - meaning Phase closed means Phase closed.)?

Think if it is (1) I will be :x :stupid: :x :stupid: :x ... but anyone knows for sure?

[ksmummy]

dun think they will put the vacancy ‘back’ to Phase 2B. It should go directly to Phase 2C.

[turquoise]

RRMummy:

Just wondering...


err.. if touchwood I kena ballot (extra by 2 kids) at Phase 2B and not successful.. then later find out that some people de-register from the Phase 2B from that school to go into Phase 2C in another school..

will the school call me up to offer the place (privilege to return to the closed Phase 2B)?

Or put the vacated seats to Phase 2C directly for all - meaning Phase closed means Phase closed.)?

Think if it is (1) I will be :x :stupid: :x :stupid: :x ... but anyone knows for sure?

Vacancy goes to 2C.

[RRMummy]

turquoise:

RRMummy:

Just wondering...


err.. if touchwood I kena ballot (extra by 2 kids) at Phase 2B and not successful.. then later find out that some people de-register from the Phase 2B from that school to go into Phase 2C in another school..

will the school call me up to offer the place (privilege to return to the closed Phase 2B)?

Or put the vacated seats to Phase 2C directly for all - meaning Phase closed means Phase closed.)?

Think if it is (1) I will be :x :stupid: :x :stupid: :x ... but anyone knows for sure?

Vacancy goes to 2C.

ksmummy:

dun think they will put the vacancy 'back' to Phase 2B. It should go directly to Phase 2C.

[KSP]

shaynamommy:

Hey, 3 boys, you are already very lucky to be selected as PV. I have doubts about the transparency of the PV selection process too. But I guess I am not an investment guru, BIg 4 accounting firm partner nor hotshot TV actor, hence, it is unlikely that my application would be accepted.


Come to think of it, doesn't the PV scheme and the general P1 registration process promote elitism? Look at the type of students who can make it to the top famous primary schools in Singapore
1. The ex-students of the famous schools (who should be doing well since they are from a good school);
2. children of the successful and famous since only their parents are likely to be selected as PV ;
3. those who can afford to stay within 1km of the famous schools (which has thus boosted the real estate prices in the locality).

Sour grapes indeed, but this is indeed the heartache of many parents from the non-elite group. I guess life is never fair, so too bad....

I totally agreed with you for this P1 registration process.

So long as there are poplular and not so poplular schools exist, this unfair situation will stay.

The only way people can gain advantage of this is from their status and money. This is true in many areas and not only for P1 registration. I also know there are ministers staying around Bukit Timah area to get their children or grandchildren to good schools.

So commoner parents like me will have to find hard for small little \"loopholes\" here and there to get the their kids into the school of choice.

[bitchymum]

keen.toshare:

Hi all,


Any parents here you have done PV for St.Hilda's ? Looks like they don't have a standard application form ?? How is their response time with PV applications.

thanks

They do not have a form to fill ... you need to write in. A standard letter stating your resume, family background, qualification and what are the areas you can help the school. If your kid registeration is next year, you better write in now. Closing date is August or Sep, but they normally select early as the school needs alot of PVs.

[bitchymum]

jan1003:

ChiefKiasu:

[quote=\"jan1003\"]hi Im new here.


My initial idea is to send my son to a neighbourhood school but changed my mind recently. I would like to apply for Kong Hwa which is about 1.5 km from my place.

He is due for registration in 2010. I would like to be a parent volunteer but i missed the date as the official period is from 1st July to 30th june. Is MOE very strict on the date? or any way to get around it?

PV is under the purview of the schools themselves, but the schools must also maintain fairness in the process. Most calls for PVs end at the end of June each year, and some even as early as December of the previous year. You can try the Hokkien Huay Kuan, or join the GRC's grassroots organisation if you still plan on getting in during Phase 2B next year.

thanks. i guess i have to join RC as neither my husband nor myself is hokkien.[/quote]If I am not wrong, you need to join RC for two years before you are eligible for phase 2B. So if you registration is next year, then you are not eligible to register too .... pls double check again.