All About Parent Volunteers (PV)

[ChiefKiasu]

Jeremy:

Beside clocking number of hours, they still need to ballot during phase 2B. Bal will carry forward to join Phase 2C for balloting.

Hmmm... the prospect of having to go through 2 ballots certainly doesn't sound like good returns for the hard work spent. So I guess parents must be prepared to do the volunteer based on its actual spirit, and not a means to an end.

[lovebearsallthings]

I didn’t know that some schools actually interview you before they decide if they even want you to do ‘volunteer service’ for them!


btw, what do you mean by ‘belong to the clan’? Are you talking about ‘old boy/old girl’?

[ChiefKiasu]

lovebearsallthings:

I didn't know that some schools actually interview you before they decide if they even want you to do 'volunteer service' for them!


btw, what do you mean by 'belong to the clan'? Are you talking about 'old boy/old girl'?

Of course. Especially if the schools are in high demand. Even if you offer yourself for free they also dowan.

By clan, we are referring to the associations set up for the various dialect groups, eg. the Hokkien Huay Kwan is for Hokkiens, the Hainan Huay Kwan is for Hainans, etc. There are certain schools affiliated with these clans, and they take into account clan membership in giving priority to members looking to send their children to affiliated schools.

[phantom]

The primary school I am looking at is quite new and does not belongs to any clan, no alot of old boys yet, so I think it will be easier for me to enroll my kid, still 3 years before time for primary 1.


But any 1 know beside been near the school and do volunteer work, any way to increase the chances of getting into the school?

[ChiefKiasu]

phantom:

The primary school I am looking at is quite new and does not belongs to any clan, no alot of old boys yet, so I think it will be easier for me to enroll my kid, still 3 years before time for primary 1.


But any 1 know beside been near the school and do volunteer work, any way to increase the chances of getting into the school?

I think it works this way:

Guaranteed:
- If a parent is an alumni or staff of the school, or
- If an older sibling is currently studying in the school, or

Better chance (access to earlier rounds of balloting)
- If you stay within X kilometers away, and
- If you do some volunteer work for at least Y years (Y normally 2), or
- You are the member of some benefactory group to the school (clan, etc)

No chance
- If you stay > X kilometers away from the school

[suzie]

Hi!


I had a question and wld appreciate if somebody wld be able to guide me correctly on this one!

I have volunteered to do the 40 hrs for one of the schools in the East (non affiliated school )but however much later i applied for voluntary service , I got to know abt the affiliation in some schools is there and some not so I thought it is better I shld try to get my child in one of the affiliated schools hoping I will be lucky (under phase 2 c). But by then the reg for the voluntary service was closed for this affiliated school.I just wanted to know if by any chance if I have a rejection in the affiliated school and then go to the school that I have done voluntary service wld I still be entertained?
:x

[ChiefKiasu]

suzie:

Hi!


I had a question and wld appreciate if somebody wld be able to guide me correctly on this one!

I have volunteered to do the 40 hrs for one of the schools in the East (non affiliated school )but however much later i applied for voluntary service , I got to know abt the affiliation in some schools is there and some not so I thought it is better I shld try to get my child in one of the affiliated schools hoping I will be lucky (under phase 2 c). But by then the reg for the voluntary service was closed for this affiliated school.I just wanted to know if by any chance if I have a rejection in the affiliated school and then go to the school that I have done voluntary service wld I still be entertained?
:x

I don't think so, unless the school still have places and you would probably have to ballot with everyone else in the later exercises. The same is true if you are alumni in a school which is not your first choice and you go back to the alumni school only if you failed in your attempt for the first choice school. MoE has closed all the loopholes which may allow parents to have their feet on multiple boats.

You should call up the current school you are doing the voluntary work for to confirm.

[titank]

Hi ChiefKiasu,


I had in mind to attack the following Primary School.

(i) Fairfield Methodist Primary. (Distance 4.5Km Away)
(ii) Radin Mas Primary (Distance 1.5Km Away)

Should I do volunteer service on both school? I consider Fairfield as there is a after school care centre just in the vicinity of the school & most important is a single session.

[ChiefKiasu]

You can volunteer for both schools, but you can only register your interest with one. MoE will never allow you to keep your feet on more than 1 boat at a time. So my advice would be that you make up your mind on one and stay focused on that target.

[lizawa]

Hello titank,


Just a note on Fairfield. Active church members from methodist churches can get their church to write them a letter to register for the school in Phase 2B, ie. the same phase as the volunteers.

Check the balloting history and see if there is a need to ballot in Phase 2B. Advantage of Fairfield is the affiliation to its secondary school.