Rethink Primary 1 registration system to get healthier mix of students from varied backgrounds

In nurturing the young to be future leaders of the country, parents past and present are, unfortunately, still infatuated with getting their children into so-called elite primary schools when they begin their education, and the current policies on primary school registration are perpetuating this unhealthy rat race.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) should consider abolishing the multi-phase primary school registration system to encourage a healthy mix of students from different backgrounds when they begin their primary school education.

There are now six phases for the Primary 1 registration for children who are Singapore citizens and permanent residents.

Except for Phase 1, the next three phases offer priority places for children whose parents or guardians are affiliated with the schools in the alumni, school committees and volunteer groups, or are employees or members endorsed by the church or clan directly connected to the school, or are active community leaders.

If there are vacancies available after that, students who live within 1km to 2km of the schools would then be given priority of admission.

However, about 40 places are probably left over after Phase 3, which is Phase 2A (2) in many popular schools.

In other words, the current system is facilitating a pooling of students whose parents are connected to elite schools or who are financially well-off and residing in the expensive properties near such popular schools, or both.

MOE should consider this: For qualifying students who fall into the Phase 2A (1) to Phase 2B categories, give them a higher balloting chance than the others in recognition of what their parents or guardians have contributed to the schools or communities, but not outright through-train admission.

MOE should also strike off the distance-based criteria.

Unlike in past years, our Government has already built an extensive MRT and public transport network where most people can get to the more popular schools by MRT, including those in the Bukit Timah area when the Downtown Line became operational in late 2017.

MOE has slaughtered sacred cows over the years in our education system by abolishing or substantially revising those systems that are no longer suitable, and working towards the “Every school is a good school” maxim.

Rethinking the P1 registration system should be the icing on the cake.