Forum Letter Replies
P1 places not for sale
Ms Ho Sulin (“Review volunteer priority for P1 places”, ST Forum, 25 May) suggested that the priority given to parent volunteers during the Primary 1 Registration exercise be reviewed, and Mr Calvin Ng (“Priority scheme may widen income gap”, ST Forum, 27 May) opined that the Primary 1 Registration framework was advantageous to higher-income families who could make monetary donations to schools.
MOE would like to state unequivocally that the buying of school places is not allowed. All school principals are aware that under no circumstances are they to solicit or accept donations in exchange for school places.
The current Primary 1 Registration framework aims to provide children with school places according to a set of transparent criteria, guided by educational goals that serve the interest of the child.
MOE recognises that proximity is an important consideration for parents, so that a young child does not have to travel a long distance to go to school. However, proximity is not the sole deciding criteria. Phase 1 of the registration exercise gives priority to parents who already have a child studying at the school of choice as this is convenient for parents, allows older siblings to help the younger child and builds school ties. Phase 2 recognises the contributions and ties that parents have with schools and communities. For schools to thrive, key stakeholders such as former students, members of the school advisory committees and parent volunteers, are critical as they help build up and strengthen the school’s tradition and ethos, and support its students. However, none of them are guaranteed places for their children as admission is dependent on the demand for and availability of school places.
MOE strives to enable all students, regardless of their family background and circumstances, to achieve their full potential. All our schools are well-resourced with good teachers, suitable facilities and sufficient funding for school programmes. MOE is also enhancing financial support for students through the Edusave Scheme and school-based financial assistance schemes, so that no student will be denied useful educational programmes because of their financial situation.
Director, School Planning and Placement
Review volunteer priority for P1 places (Ho Sulin (Ms), ST Online Forum, 25/5)
I applaud the Government’s initiative to build a world-class education system, as highlighted in the Ministry of Education’s addendum to the President’s Address to Parliament.
One area that has to be addressed in the primary education sector is the transparency and relevance of the priority given to parent volunteers (PVs) under Phase 2B of the current Primary 1 (P1) admission exercise.
Volunteerism in schools should come from parents of its current cohort. Their intention for volunteering should stem from a desire to know what their child is involved in at school.
In the West, parents commonly choose from a wide array of school committees to be involved in supporting the school. Their involvement creates an informal parent-student network and their efforts are natural and socially encouraged.
While some schools here do have parent support groups formed by parents of existing students, the PV scheme for yet-to-be students of the school creates a highly competitive situation during the short-listing process in the case of ‘popular schools’. It is common to hear of parents being rejected because their skill-sets do not match the school’s needs. And for those who get through, the heartache comes when balloting is required even after the parents have put in significant amount of time and effort.
The ability to contribute based on skill-set matching may exclude children from lower- to middle- income families whose parents are often less affluent (to provide funding) or lack the time and skills that the school may be looking for.
The Ministry of Education ought to review the registration process so as to not to add to the stress of working parents who truly want to put their children in the best schools through a fair process.
Priority Scheme May Widen Income Gap (Calvin Ng, ST Forum, 27/5, pA19)
I wish to add to Monday’s letter by Ms Ho Sulin (‘Review volunteer priority for P1 places’) that under the current rules, children from lower- to middle-income families are disadvantaged in several other ways when their parents are scouting for a primary school.
First, I agree with Ms Ho that students from higher-income families have an advantage when it comes to parent volunteerism and monetary donations to schools.
Second, the Ministry of Education (MOE) offers entrance priority to children living within a 2km radius of the schools. Most of the elite primary schools are located in premier districts, for instance, like Bukit Timah (Anglo Chinese Primary and Raffles Girls Primary). Only a select few, like Rosyth Primary, are located in heartland regions where lower- to middle-income families live.
Third, priority is given to children whose parents had prior links to the school. Many of the children whose parents have links to the elite schools come from higher-income families.
Fourth, having gained entrance to these popularly sought schools, the siblings of these better-off children will enjoy the sibling-priority advantage.
My concern is that the priority scheme may create an unintended vicious circle.
Better-off children are more likely to find places in the better schools, where they will get better resources.
For example, the elite schools have the funds to employ teachers who are of a higher calibre. They also have more money to fund other useful educational enrichment programmes.
With these advantages, they are more likely to achieve success later in life. Would this not widen the income gap?