Impact of School Closure on Student Transfer

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Chua Chu Kang GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education for students affected by school closures and who are subsequently transferred to other schools, whether the Ministry can take into consideration the student's living arrangement and address of the student's primary caregiver prior to the school transfer.

Response

1. Due to declining enrolment in some schools, MOE has merged schools rather than close them. The schools that are merged are usually located close to each other, and students from both schools would, as a norm, continue their learning in the merged school.

2. However, there have been instances of school transfer requests from some parents whose child is affected by school mergers. MOE will consider these requests, taking into consideration factors such as the student's living arrangements, the address of the primary caregiver, the transportation challenges, the educational interests of the student, as well as available vacancies in the requested school.