SINGAPORE — Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens in north-eastern Singapore continue to be most popular, with balloting to be conducted for some sessions, after the registration exercise drew to a close on Saturday.

Balloting will be conducted for both the morning and afternoon sessions for the MOE Kindergarten at Punggol View — which was also oversubscribed last year — and for the morning sessions at the Punggol Green and Sengkang Green centres, said a ministry spokesperson yesterday evening.

Overall demand for places at the MOE kindergartens for next year increased from the previous year, showed figures provided by the ministry. The MOE received 650 applications, which account for more than two-thirds of 920 Kindergarten One places available next year at its 10 kindergartens.

In last year’s registration exercise, fewer than half of the places available at the first five kindergartens that opened this year were taken up, and the number of places on offer at these kindergartens for next year was cut from 560 to 380.

The MOE did not provide a breakdown of application numbers for existing and new kindergartens, or for each kindergarten. Parents can still submit applications, as long as there are vacancies in the kindergartens, the MOE spokesperson added. This is similar to industry practice.

Parents may approach the existing MOE kindergartens at Blangah Rise, Dazhong, Farrer Park, Punggol View and Tampines, or offices at Frontier Primary, Punggol Green Primary, Sengkang Green Primary, West Spring Primary and Chongfu School (for MOE Kindergarten at Yishun, which will be located at Blk 318A Yishun Avenue 9). They may also call the MOE customer service centre at 6872 2220.

For kindergartens doing balloting, parents will be notified of the outcome by post by May 9. Those not allotted a place may enrol in other MOE kindergartens or in a different session with vacancies, the MOE spokesperson said.

The MOE will set up 15 kindergartens by 2016 in its bid to raise quality of the pre-school sector. Its curriculum is play-based and features local themes. It will use the latest research in early childhood education to develop good teaching methods and practices that can be shared with other pre-schools. NEO CHAI CHIN, WOO SIAN BOON