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Reference No : Edun S02-03-002 Vol 18

Press Release No : 06097

Date : 7 Jan 1998

PRIMARY ONE PRIORITY FROM YEAR 2000 FOR ALUMNI

1. The Ministry of Education will grant priority for Primary One registration to members of school alumni associations and school volunteers who serve at least 40 hours a year.
   

   Members of School Alumni Associations
   

2. Children of former students will be given higher priority for Primary One registration if their parents are also members of the school alumni association for at least one year before the registration. This will apply with effect from the 1999 Primary One Registration Exercise for entry to Primary One in the year 2000. It will be for children born between 2 January 1993 and 1 January 1994. There is no change in priority for children of former students who are not members of the alumni association.
   
3. The Ministry of Education announced this move as part of a scheme to encourage former students to become active members of their alumni association. Where there is no alumni association at present, the principal of the school will help former students who are interested to set one up.
   
4. Alumni associations help former students maintain their bonds with their schools. Members keep up the school's traditions and contribute towards its development. In this way, the community, parents and school alumni join together to help schools do their best for their students.
   
5. For the 1999 Primary One Registration Exercise, the new scheme will see the current Phase 2A divided into two parts as follows:
   
   

   Phase 2A(1)	for former students of the school who become alumni members not later than 30 June 1998; and for members of the School Advisory Committee/School Management Committee.
   Phase 2A(2)	for former students of the school who are not alumni members; and for staff of the school.

   Voluntary Service
   

6. Currently, a child whose parent has provided voluntary service to the school may register under Phase 2B. The Ministry has decided to spell out more clearly the term, "voluntary service", to require that the parent must give at least 40 hours of voluntary service in the12 months before registration. The objective is to encourage parents and the community to develop continuous personal involvement and commitment to the schools. The school will decide the types of voluntary service that it requires. This condition will also take effect from the 1999 Primary One Registration Exercise for children who will enter Primary One in the year 2000.

   Implementation
   

7. There will be no change to this year's Primary One Registration Exercise for children entering Primary One in the year 1999.
   
8. The changes will only take place in the 1999 Primary One Registration Exercise for children entering Primary One in the year 2000.
   
9. Please refer to the table below for a summary of the registration phases for the 1998 and 1999 Registration Exercises.
   
10. Attached to the press release are the following reference materials:
    

    	Annex A- List showing Primary Schools with affiliated Alumni Associations
    	Annex B- Questions and Answers

    
     

    Enquiries
    

11. Members of the public can contact the Ministry's hotline at tel:1800-735 4466 for further enquiries.
    
    

    Website Address
    

12. The information provided in this press release can also be obtained at MOE's Website at http://www.moe.edu.sg
    

    
    
    

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

PRIMARY ONE REGISTRATION EXERCISE
for Children who are Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents

Notes :

* Only 50% of the vacancies may be filled in Phase 2B, so as to leave places for Phase 2C.

Children who are not Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents will be registered under Phase 3.

Should the number of applications exceed the number of vacancies in any Phase, places will be balloted according to the following order of priority:

1. Children living within 1 km of the school of choice.

2. Children living within 2 km of the school of choice.

3. Children living outside 2 km of the school of choice.

ANNEX A

PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITH AFFILIATED ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS

(Information as at 10 Jan 98)

ANNEX B

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. How does one become a member of an alumni association?
   

   Contact the principal of the school or a committee member of the association. If your former primary school does not have an existing alumni association and you are interested in forming one, please work with the principal of the school in locating other old boys and girls, and consult the principal on how you can go about setting up the alumni association if there is enough interest.
   

2. I live next door to School A? Can I join the alumni association of the school?
   

   Whether you can join the alumni association of the school depends on the rules of that association. However, please note that registration under Phase 2A(1), which will be effective from 1999, requires that you must be a former student of the school in addition to being a member of the alumni association.
   

3. What are the benefits of joining the alumni?
   

   The benefits depend on the alumni association concerned. To encourage stronger links between alumni and their school, former students of the primary school who are members of the alumni association can register their children under Phase 2A(1) in the 1999 Primary One Registration Exercise for entry in the year 2000.
   

4. I studied in School A from Pri 1 to 3, and transferred to School B at Pri 4.
   Does it mean that I can join the alumni associations of both schools, and register my child in either one of the two schools?
   

   Yes, you can be a member of the alumni associations of the two primary schools you have attended, and choose to register your child under Phase 2A(1) in either of the two schools.
   
   

5. By which date should I join an alumni association if I want to register my child under Phase 2A(1)?
   

   Phase 2A(1) comes into effect from the 1999 Primary One Registration Exercise. This is to give parents time to join existing associations and for new associations to be formed. You must be a former student of the primary school and a member of the alumni association for at least a year before you may register your child under Phase 2A(1). If you wish to register your child under Phase 2A(1) in 1999 for entry to Primary One in the year 2000, you must join the alumni association by 30 June 1998.
   
   

6. What are the obligations expected of an alumni member?
   

   This depends on the individual alumni association. Please check directly with the alumni association concerned.
   
   

7. Why is the figure - at least 40 hours of voluntary service - used as a yardstick for parents who have provided voluntary service to schools?
   

   It is a long-standing rule that parents who volunteer their services have priority under Phase 2B. The new rule makes it clear that the school requires at least 40 hours of voluntary service a year. This is to encourage continuous involvement. We have worked on an average of one hour a week and 40 school weeks, hence the figure of 40 hours.
   
   

8. I am currently volunteering my service to a school. How do I qualify to register my child under Phase 2B?
   

   The rule requiring at least 40 hours of voluntary service a year comes into effect from the 1999 Primary One Registration Exercise. If you wish to register your child under Phase 2B in the 1999 Exercise for entry to Primary One in the year 2000, you will have to serve the primary school at least 40 hours between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 1999. The Principal will have to certify the amount of service rendered.
   
   

9. I wish to volunteer my service to a school. How do I go about it?
   

   You can contact the school to indicate your interest in volunteering your services.
   
   

10. What are the Ministry's guidelines to Principals about what type of volunteers they can take in ?
    

    The needs vary from school to school; different schools can require different types of services. Principals are in the best position to know what would be most helpful for their schools. They will decide what types of voluntary service will most benefit the school and its students.
    
    
    

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

8 JANUARY 1998