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FAQs on Enhanced Admission Framework for Returning Singaporeans

General

  1. What does MOE mean by “returning Singaporean (RS) children”?

    “Returning Singaporean children” refers to children who are Singapore Citizens (SC) or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR) who have lived overseas and are currently not students in the local school system. Children who are not Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents, but who have a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident parent would not be eligible to participate in the enhanced admission framework.

  2. How many Returning Singaporean children seek MOE’s assistance for placement into primary and secondary schools each year?

    The number of Returning Singaporean children seeking MOE’s assistance for placement into our schools had remained fairly constant at about 200-300 cases for primary school and about 200 cases for secondary school each year from 2001 to 2004. It increased to about 600-700 cases each for both primary school and secondary schools in 2005. Currently, there are fewer than 10 Returning Singaporeans seeking placement to junior colleges and Millennia Institute in a year.

  3. How would non-Singaporean children whose parents are Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents benefit from the enhancements?

    Non-Singaporean children (i.e. not SC or SPR) whose parents are Singaporean Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents are not eligible for the enhanced admission frameworks to primary schools or secondary schools. However, these children may seek direct admission to schools, or seek assistance from MOE Pupil Placement Section.

  4. In what way did MOE assist Returning Singaporeans in their children’s school placement prior to the enhanced admission framework?

    Currently, students who have to leave school to follow their parents for overseas employment may reserve a place in the school they are currently enrolled in under the Leave of Absence (LOA) Scheme. (Such students would need to pay an annual nominal fee to keep their place in the school.)

    For children due to enter Primary 1 but who are living overseas, their parents may register them during the annual P1 Registration exercise under the respective priority schemes. Even if they are not physically in Singapore during the P1 Registration exercise, they can still participate in the exercise by either submitting their applications through their nominated proxy, or by seeking assistance with MOE’s Pupil Placement Section directly. Such applications would be treated equally with any other application by local Singaporeans, including the balloting opportunity, should places be insufficient to meet demand for the particular registration phase. Children who successfully gain admission to a school in Primary 1 may reserve their place in the school under the Leave of Absence Scheme.

Enhanced Admission Framework to Primary Schools

Guaranteed Place in School Nearest to Home with Available Vacancies

  1. What is meant by “school nearest to home”?

    This would be the school nearest the child’s local residential address (as reflected on the parent / guardian’s NRIC) that is suitable for the child. For example, the child’s mother tongue language, gender, etc. will be taken into consideration in the selection of a school.

  2. What is meant by “level appropriate to age cohort”?

    The level that is appropriate to the local age cohort is summarised in the table as follows:

    Appropriate Age Level for Primary School
    Level Correct Age (CA) as of 1 Jan
    Primary 1 6+
    Primary 2 7+
    Primary 3 8+
    Primary 4 9+
    Primary 5 10+

  3. Will a Returning Singaporean on Leave of Absence be guaranteed a place in the nearest primary school with vacancies?

    Returning Singaporeans on leaves of absence already has a place in a school. Hence, the enhanced framework is not applicable to them.

  4. Can Returning Singaporeans give up their leave of absence place in their previous school if they prefer to make use of the enhanced admission framework?

    This enhanced admission framework is to assist Returning Singaporeans in getting back into our schools, having been away from it. Returning Singaporeans with leaves of absence already have a place reserved in the school they had previously gained admission to. Hence, Returning Singaporeans who give up their leave of absence may not benefit from this enhanced admission framework. Currently, Returning Singaporeans who give up their leave of absence may directly approach another school of their choice to seek admission. In such a case, that school would have the discretion whether to admit such Returning Singaporeans.

  5. If the parents / guardians of a Returning Singaporean do not currently have a local address as they had sold their last residence, how would the nearest primary school with vacancies be determined?

    The parents / guardians of the Returning Singaporean can declare their intention to live in a local address if they do not currently have a local address. Such parents / guardians must sign an undertaking that they will move into these addresses used for admission. A false declaration is an offence, which can result in the Returning Singaporean being taken out of the school and placed in another school with vacancies which is located nearest to his / her home.

  6. Why is there no centralised posting exercise at the end of the year for primary schools unlike the enhancement for secondary schools?

    As placement to primary schools is not based on merit, MOE would provide assistance to Returning Singaporeans throughout the year for admission to primary schools. There is thus no necessity to conduct a centralised posting exercise at year’s end. Returning Singaporeans will continue to have equal opportunities to seek admission to a primary school of choice during the Primary One Registration Exercise, no different from local Singaporeans.

  7. How will MOE identify a primary school for the Returning Singaporean?

    MOE will provide Returning Singaporeans with a place in the primary school nearest to their home with available vacancies. In doing so, MOE will also take into account factors like gender or availability of instruction in the appropriate Mother Tongue language.

  8. If the Returning Singaporean does not feel comfortable with the school nearest to his / her home based on religious grounds, will MOE provide a place in another school for the Returning Singaporean?

    MOE will exercise flexibility if there are special religious considerations.

  9. Will the Returning Singaporean be taking up places that previously went to students residing in Singapore? Will this new system thus make it more difficult for students to get into popular primary schools?

    Returning Singaporeans would be offered places to schools with vacancies only, at the Primary 2 to Primary 5 levels. Hence, it would not impact existing students residing in Singapore. For Primary 1, local Singaporean children and Returning Singaporean children have equal opportunities to seek admission to a primary school of their choice during the Primary One Registration Exercise. If the Returning Singaporean wants to be admitted at the Primary 6 level, the school will, in consultation with the Returning Singaporean’s parents, decide whether or not to accept the Returning Singaporean since P6 is the critical PSLE year.

Removal of Placement Test

  1. Previously, Returning Singaporeans seeking admission to primary schools had to sit for school-based tests to determine the appropriate level of admission. Do Returning Singaporeans have to sit for such tests with the enhanced admission framework?

    While Returning Singaporeans no longer have to sit for any admission test, the school may conduct test(s) for the Returning Singaporean, after admission, to determine the level of mastery of content and language of the child. This is to provide information on the child’s current attainment level, so that the child receives the appropriate help to settle back into a Singapore school. The school may, based on such tests, and in consultation with the parents, place the child at a lower level or in a different stream more suited for the child.

  2. What option is there if the Returning Singaporean is unable to keep up with the school’s academic requirements?

    The school must admit the child to an age appropriate level. This is because if the child had stayed in Singapore, he / she would have progressed to the same level as his / her local counterparts. MOE’s policy intent is to ensure that Returning Singaporeans are not worse off than their local counterparts. However, the school may, in consultation with the parents, place the child at a lower level or in a different stream more suited for the child.

  3. Are schools allowed to conduct any admission tests or interviews?

    No, schools may not conduct any tests or interviews for admission of Returning Singaporeans.

  4. Who should a school admit, if there are more Returning Singaporean applicants than places available in the school?

    Should the number of applicants exceed the number of vacancies, schools will have the flexibility to use their school-based criteria to allocate the limited number of vacancies to applicants. Schools can take the applicants’ distance from home into account.