<![CDATA[Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration]]>Some interesting letters from ST forum.

'Permanent residents - Why are these Phase 2C children given an equal chance in Primary 1 registration?'


http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_417903.html
Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration
I REFER to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's speech at Tanjong Pagar's National Day celebration dinner ('Give new arrivals the time to adapt' last Friday), in which he pointed out that 'a clear distinction' has already been made between citizens and permanent residents (PRs) in terms of public housing, hospital charges, education fees and sharing government surpluses.
Mr Lee also assured long-time citizens that they would not be disadvantaged as the Government has enough places in top schools and tertiary institutions.
But why are Singaporeans and PRs in the same category when it comes to the Primary 1 registration process? When top schools are overwhelmed with applicants and places have to be decided by balloting, Singaporeans are not given priority.
The Education Ministry should reassess the criteria for admission to Primary 1.

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_417902.html
Require long-term PRs to take up citizenship
I REFER to the letters by Mr Eduard Tay ('Permanent residents - Why are these Phase 2C children given an equal chance in Primary 1 registration?', last Thursday), Mrs Sweta Agarwal ('Primary 1 places - We too have a right to give our children the best education', last Friday) and Mr Jimmy Loke ('The PR difference', last Saturday).
I agree with Mrs Agarwal for the most part, but she should understand that citizenship comes with its privileges. I am sure that in her own country, she would expect no less from the government.
She should also understand that good schools are but one of the many benefits offered by Singapore, and that her decision to live here should not be determined solely on the premise of getting places in good schools for her children.
Mr Loke indicates that Mr Tay's child does not have the option of going elsewhere to find a good school. Singaporeans today can emigrate to many countries around the world because of Singapore's good reputation. And many have.
To the question asked by Mr Loke on why Mrs Agarwal has not taken up citizenship, I have this suggestion: Require all permanent residents (PRs) who have lived here for 10 years or more to apply for citizenship, and remove some or all privileges accorded to them should they fail to do so. This forces PRs to think carefully about whether they feel they belong in Singapore.
Anecdotally, I have found that PRs who have lived here for five years or more tend to stay, as within that timeframe they would have sunk their roots here - perhaps they have married a Singaporean, their children are reluctant to leave, they have taken loans that are not easily settled, or they have simply grown to like the country.
The reasons that bring people from other countries to Singapore are the same reasons that make Singaporeans leave for other countries.
So perhaps in determining how Singapore treats its PRs, Singaporeans should consider how they would like to be treated if they were PRs in another country. And in seeking benefits, perhaps Singapore PRs should consider what sort of benefits they would accord to PRs in their own countries.
Such an approach may significantly narrow the gap in expectations between citizens and PRs.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/5016/give-citizens-priority-in-primary-1-registrationRSS for NodeWed, 13 May 2026 06:13:16 GMTMon, 17 Aug 2009 23:53:11 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Sat, 29 May 2010 19:34:21 GMT]]>

jujuboys:
Not sure if this has been mentioned in KSP forum?


From 2010, Singapore Citizens (SCs) will be given an additional ballot slip (i.e. two chances instead of one), while Permanent Residents (PRs) will retain one ballot slip whenever balloting is conducted by any school during the P1 Registration Exercise. SCs will therefore have a higher chance of securing a place for their child in a school of choice when there is balloting.

During balloting,what if the SCs so lucky that he/she balloted two times. :congrats: :cheeky: . How the school going to do then? Oops! :gloomy: Or considers one chance gone for others ....... šŸ˜¢

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/197880https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/197880Sat, 29 May 2010 19:34:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:53:31 GMT]]>

jujuboys:
Not sure if this has been mentioned in KSP forum?

There is a http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7678 specially for this topic.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/109562https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/109562Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:53:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:09:57 GMT]]>Not sure if this has been mentioned in KSP forum?


From 2010, Singapore Citizens (SCs) will be given an additional ballot slip (i.e. two chances instead of one), while Permanent Residents (PRs) will retain one ballot slip whenever balloting is conducted by any school during the P1 Registration Exercise. SCs will therefore have a higher chance of securing a place for their child in a school of choice when there is balloting.

Giving Singaporeans two chances during balloting will retain the underlying principles of our existing P1 Registration Framework and provide for diversity in our schools, while simultaneously according Singaporean citizens an additional privilege.

Source: http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2009/12/measures-to-further-differenti.php

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/109331https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/109331Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:09:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:50:56 GMT]]>Althought we understand that by giving priority to citizen, we may be losing foreign talent.


However, this system may also work in a reverve manner. Not giving priority to citizen, we may lose local talent (e.g. migration) ā€¦ perhaps.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/101897https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/101897Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:50:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:43:26 GMT]]>I am just going to comment on one point which may not be totally true.


"4. also most of the citizens here would have already tried for places in phase 1 when children of alumni are given places without balloting. PRā€™s dont have that option. so definitely citizens have more rights than PRā€™s "

Being an alumni doesnā€™t necessary mean being a citizen. I have fellow colleagues who are PR for a very long time. Their children are PR as well and had studied in Singapore schools. Being PR for so long, their children are already in their 20s and some are of marriageable age. That means, once they have children, they will be eligible for Phase 2A.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/78660https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/78660Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:43:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:15:37 GMT]]>hello everyone,

I am new to this website & a PR at that.
this discussion is quite interesting & a lot of bashing of PR's all around.

I would like to put up few points inthe defence of the PR's

1. in not all cases it is true that wife will not be working, & as some have said that if both are working then grand parents will be here to take care of the kids. It is too generalised a statement & may not be true for more than 80% of times.

2. A new PR doesnt have a family Support or the contacts which a citizen has as he has been here all his life. also Most of the citizens will be having there parents around to take care of the grandchildren, but may be less than 5% of PR's have family support here. so if a PR does PV he/she is also juggling a lot of things together & is at a disadvantage of lack of social support structures. so I think it all boils down to what choice you are making & what do you prefer more career or children.!!

3. when a PR is putting his child in a local school most ,likely he wants to settle here & if he has to settle here his progeny will have to go for NS. Agreed i have not done NS but my child will be doing, so he should be eligible for equal rights.

4. also most of the citizens here would have already tried for places in phase 1 when children of alumni are given places without balloting. PR's dont have that option. so definitely citizens have more rights than PR's

5 some people dont take up citizenship coz of emotional issues, i know a few people who have been in singapore for more than 20 years, & have no plans to go back but dont want to take up citizenship as it is the only thing which reminds them of the motherland. So they are not exploiting singapore in any way!!!!

I hope it brings some sanity & calrifies a few issues.

Thanks

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75828https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75828Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:15:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:46:22 GMT]]>

caroline3sg:
I don't agree with above. Many PRs jump queue by joining 2B. Someone already mentioned, PR wife can do PV while citizen mum has to jugle work, home, kids etc. 2B should omit PRs coz many citizens are from 2C.

because they are talents and their wives do not need to work.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/57993https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/57993Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:46:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:42:28 GMT]]>

mum03:
Its not only the PRC, there is also from India.

they are here to save us, seriously. if no new blood, all are sons/daughters of Mr and Mrs TAN.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/57991https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/57991Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:42:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:40:03 GMT]]>

KS_me:
one good example would be Jet Li Ꝏčæžę°.. who knows \"Kung Fu\" and obtained Citizenship easily.


have you wonder which school will his kids ended up at? I bet all will be placed in the Top school..
she is attending american international school. do you really think he wants her daughter to attend local school? come on.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/57989https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/57989Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:40:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:01:04 GMT]]>

Penza:
BTW I wrote ths to ST but it never got posted:


In her letter, Mrs Agawal have hit the gist of why PR students should not be given equal chance for Primary 1 registration. She says that if her children were unable to secure a place in a good public school, why would her family to stay? A Singpore citizen will never be able to say that. We are here to stay and as such deserve the right to choose before a permanent resident.
Think about it, if her husband or herself cant get a job here ,do you think she can or will stay? For these ppl, jobs & money are the main priorities before education. I dont believe that they will go for a lower paying job or less prospective jobs so that their children can have better education in a foreign country. They will go to where there are greener grass & if it packages with good education, why not. And at the same time get to enjoy same priviledge as citizens like us.

For one thing, maybe you singaporeans will be happy to know that this citizen has got a place through balloting but my neighbour(PR) did not :celebrate:.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/55598https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/55598Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:01:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:38:09 GMT]]>I completedly, wholeheartedly agree with 3boys. You worded it so well! My sentiments exactly!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/55582https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/55582Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:38:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:39:54 GMT]]>I hope no one is thinking that I am trivialising the concerns of parents with regards to getting a place at a good school and within a close distance. Its important to me so why would it not be important to someone else? The point I am making is that we should not be making the PRs the bogeyman in this exercise. At one level, if the rules are drawn up as such, they fully have the rights to play within them. Next, if one wishes to debate the merits of such a policy, then one needs to consider the whole picture and philosophy of PRs vs citizens rights, and not merely drill in on school admissions. If one, just because of an acute (and because of its immediacy, looms large and threatening) need, then tweaks a micro-policy without considering the macro, then it is a really lousy way of developing policy and strategy. This is what I mean by the big picture. Also, they are by no means the only people (and hardly the majority) who drive the perversion of the system. Think all the people who rent apartments and pay over the odds for houses just to get within range of schools. What about the folk who have been living there for years? Fair?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/55391https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/55391Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:39:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:06:45 GMT]]>

qms:
Actually, I am quite curious. If I had registered my child in Phase 2B, and I want to change to another school in Phase 2C, I need to withdraw my child's registration with the first school before I am allowed to register in the second school.


So, if MOE posts my child to a school that I don't want my child to be in after Phase 2CS, can I not withdraw his name from the school, and apply at another school in Phase 3? :?
You can't. You have to withdraw first. And Phase 3 is first-come-first-served so you can't wait-and-see like for the previous Phases.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54921https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54921Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:06:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:50:23 GMT]]>

titank:
So that mean there is a choice for those who had failed in the Phase 2CS.

Hi Titank!

That's right. Those who were unsuccessful at P2C had to choose 3 schools for MOE to post their children to. Those who didn't choose the 3 schools, MOE would post the children to nearest schools that still had vacancies.

These were done before Phase 3 started. That was why if we were to check the MOE website before Phase 3, the number of vacancies available to the schools were shown as \"Not Available\".

As for parents who had indicated 3 schools, but their children were not posted to one of the three schools, I have no idea how MOE arrived at the allocation of places.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54861https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54861Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:50:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:30:45 GMT]]>Hi QMS,


So that mean there is a choice for those who had failed in the Phase 2CS. I guess by looking at Central, Bukit Merah & Queenstown, these are the following schools should have places in Phase 3.

Blangah Rise Primary
New Town Primary
Queenstown Primary
Stanford Primary

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54855https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54855Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:30:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:11:32 GMT]]>

jedamum:
in any case, there is no course of appeal when MOE does the allocation.

Actually, I am quite curious. If I had registered my child in Phase 2B, and I want to change to another school in Phase 2C, I need to withdraw my child's registration with the first school before I am allowed to register in the second school.

So, if MOE posts my child to a school that I don't want my child to be in after Phase 2CS, can I not withdraw his name from the school, and apply at another school in Phase 3? :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54831https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54831Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:11:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:34:22 GMT]]>what if the no. of parents choosing blangah rish exceeds the schoolā€™s vacancies? then maybe MOE tikam tikam allocate or they allocate based on distance ie if applicant A is 3km from BRPS and 5 km from XYZPS compared with applicant B who is 3.5km from BRPS but 7km from next available school, maybe MOE will let applicant B into BRPS instead applicant A? just my wild thoughtsā€¦

in any case, there is no course of appeal when MOE does the allocation. best bet is to go on waiting list for a transfer as someone mentioned earlier.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54818https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54818Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:34:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:26:35 GMT]]>

titank:
Presuming those who were not successful in balloting of Radin Mas (2C) & Gan Eng Seng (2C Supp).Would all of them be posted to Blangah Rise Primary?

Hi Titank!

My understanding is as follows:

Those staying in Bt Merah, if they are not successful in RMPS, GESPS, Zhangde or CHIJ Kellock, and distance IS a top concern for them, they would have chosen Blangah Rise Primary as one of their 3 choices. In fact, should be first choice because the other schools (e.g. New Town, Queenstown, Stamford, etc.) should be further in terms of distance. If they had chosen Blangah Rise, why should MOE not post them to this school since it fulfils the requirements - have vacancy and near?

Unless the parent did not opt for Blangah Rise, and instead, chose 3 other schools which are further away. If that is the case, should we blame MOE for posting the child to a school that is far away from the house?

Or, unless the parent chose Blangah Rise, yet the MOE didn't post the child to the school. Then, this should be an issue of contention.

Perhaps my understanding is wrong all along.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54815https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54815Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:26:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:22:58 GMT]]>Guess this serves as a good lesson

for us all that itā€™s best not to let MOE
handle the posting for us, especially
if itā€™s the distance factor weā€™re looking
intoā€¦ have to thank fallen for sharingā€¦

It was impossible for me to do PV back
then when it was time for DD to be
registered for P1, with another infant
to care for and for hubs who then had
to run some shift duties and also the
as the sole breadwinner, iā€™d rather he
kept his job than having to take frequent
leaves just to do PV.

As we know today, there are also PVs
who have been unsuccessful with the
school of their choiceā€¦

Having to register a first-born child under
Phase 2C can be quite a challenge if there
are few schools within vicinity of residence,
or higher intake in earlier Phases (meaning
less places available at 2C)ā€¦ (etc).

I can empathize with fallenā€™s predicamentā€¦
and fallenā€¦ i suppose titank has shared gd
advise. Waitlist or swap when child is older.
If you wish for the convenience of distance
for your child. All my bestā€¦

In my opinion, your sharing is not a petty
complaintā€¦ different families would have
to go through different measures in
different circumstances of their lives.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54783https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54783Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:22:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:44:22 GMT]]>Hi QMS,


Presuming those who were not successful in balloting of Radin Mas (2C) & Gan Eng Seng (2C Supp).Would all of them be posted to Blangah Rise Primary?

Maybe for Fallen's case maybe an exception. Phase 3 for Singaporeans & PR's still can go quene up or have to let MOE handle the posting?l

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54764https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54764Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:44:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:47:17 GMT]]>

jedamum:
if not, it is a good reminder to future applicants that they should go for Phase 3 instead of relying on MOE to do the posting.

Hi jedamum!

I thought that, after P2C, all unsuccessful parents would indicate 3 schools (that still have vacancies) that they would like MOE to post their children to? :?

Hence, for fallen's case, I can only think of the following circumstances:

1. Fallen's 3 neighbourhood schools did not have vacancies anymore after P2C;
2. Fallen didn't indicate the next nearer 3 schools to his house;
3. The school that is 5 km away from Fallen's house is the nearest school with vacancies after P2C.

In any case, regardless which circumstance, like what Titank suggested, the only way out is for him to put his child in the waiting list of the schools that are nearer to his house.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54713https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54713Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:47:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:11:04 GMT]]>My son lost both ballots in Phase 2C and Phase 2C Supp. MOE posted him to a school more than 5KM away instead of the 3 neighbourhood school around my home. This is the type of assurance MOE gives to all Singaporean, there is always place for your child....however far it is from your residence is never MOE concern, good luck.


Hi Fallen,

Sorry to hear that you are not successful in Phase 2C & 2c supplementary stage. Perhaps you can try to put on waiting list or seek to transfer the child to your desired school at maybe 1 -2 year later.

Normally at P3 there would be some vacancies as certain group would transfer to take the GEP.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54698https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54698Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:11:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:10:16 GMT]]>qms,


Apology if i have offended everyone .... I must have !!
No, i don't know fallen personally.
I just get fed up with people making so much complaints and most of the complaints, well, are very petty one.


qms:
Hi tan_dave!

Do you happen to know fallen PERSONALLY? :?

If not, it is not fair to accuse him of doing nothing and expecting to be given priority in the P1 registration. You do not know his reasons for doing nothing, right?

Before you start accusing, please spare a thought for others, especially during this time period.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54697https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54697Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:10:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Give citizens priority in Primary 1 registration on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:45:28 GMT]]>

tan_dave:
Is it fair to give priority to whoever done nothing ?
Hi tan_dave!

Do you happen to know fallen PERSONALLY? :?

If not, it is not fair to accuse him of doing nothing and expecting to be given priority in the P1 registration. You do not know his reasons for doing nothing, right?

Before you start accusing, please spare a thought for others, especially during this time period.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54680https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/54680Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:45:28 GMT