When I Was Young

From Voices

Today • Tuesday • June 24, 2008

Primary 1 registrations shouldn’t be all about having ties with the school

Letter from GOH KIAN HUAT

The primary 1 registration exercise will be conducted from next Monday to Aug 28.

Unlike admissions to secondary schools or tertiary institutions, these pupils are not selected based on academic merit.

Instead, the criteria are based on a personal relationship with the school.

Priority is given to children who have siblings in a school or whose parents have connections with the school in one way or another.

Under Phase 1 of the registration exercise, a child with a sibling in the school is given a place automatically.

This is unfair to children who have no siblings. Parents who have secured a “better” school for their first child are guaranteed that all their children will have a place in the school.

Under phases 2A(1), 2A(2) and 2B, the selection of a child is based on how his or her parents are related to the school.

For instance, a child whose parents or siblings previously studied in the school and have joined the alumni association, or whose parents are school staff or have volunteered their services in the school are eligible for this phase.

This criterion seems to encourage parents to be involved in school activities just so as to be accorded priority in the registration exercise for their child.

This is unfair to parents who were not from a “better” school, whose primary schools have been closed down or who are unable to establish any connection with the school.

For a child who has no sibling in the school or whose parents have no relationship with the school, they are accorded the lower priority under Phase 2C.

It is understood that Primary 1 registration exercises cannot be based on academic performance.

However, it does not seem to be fair to use personal relationships as a basis in our democratic country.

The Ministry of Education should consider moving away from this. An overall balloting system should be considered to be used to allocate places in primary schools.