P1 places available for all eligible children

01 September 2007

P1 places available for all eligible children

We refer to the reports "Fruitless queue for all but one parent" (ST, 29/8, pH1) and "More than enough places for kids in final phase" (ST, 31/8, pH8) on the vacancies for Phase 3 of the Primary 1 Registration Exercise.
The reports stated that there was only one place available at Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) for Phase 3 of the P1 Registration Exercise, but stated this was different from what was "originally published on the Ministry of Education (MOE) website". The 29 Aug report also stated that the MOE website had not been updated.
As part of the usual P1 Registration process every year, after Phase 2C (Supplementary), MOE works on posting Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents (SC/SPR) who were not successfully registered in any school at the end of Phase 2C (Supplementary). This is to ensure that all eligible SC/SPR children are allocated a place in our schools. The process involves consultation with the parents and advising them on available vacancies.
As these remaining postings for SC/SPR children have priority over Phase 3, the vacancy statistics for Phase 3 can only be provided after this process of registering SC/SPR children is completed. For this year’s P1 Registration exercise, this was completed on 28 Aug 2007. The website was immediately updated with the vacancy statistics for Phase 3 on 29 Aug 2007 morning, before Phase 3 began on 30 Aug 2007.
We nevertheless apologise to affected parents in Phase 3 for any inconvenience caused and will make it explicitly clear in our website for future P1 registration exercises that information pertaining to Phase 2C (Supplementary) does not apply to Phase 3. MOE will continue to provide information on vacancies for Phase 3 at the start of that phase, or earlier where possible.
There were about 6000 vacancies in our schools for Phase 3. While parents may not obtain a place at the school of their choice, there are enough places in our schools for all eligible P1 children to receive a quality education.

Tan Tow Koon
Deputy Director, School Placement and Scholarships
Ministry of Education