S'poreans to get priority for P1 places during balloting: MOE
Posted: 25 March 2012 1447 hrs
SINGAPORE: From this year, Singaporeans will get absolute priority over permanent residents when it comes to balloting for primary school places.
The Education Ministry said where balloting is required during Primary One registration, Singaporeans will be admitted first ahead of permanent residents, before home-school distance is considered.
For example, when the number of applications exceed the number of school places, Singaporeans who live closer to the school of choice will get higher priority compared to Singaporeans who live further away.
Citizens living within one kilometre will be admitted first, followed by those who live between one kilometre and two kilometres from school.
Singaporeans who live outside two kilometres of the school of choice will then be given a place.
If there are still vacancies in the school after all eligible Singaporean children have been admitted after balloting, places will be given to permanent residents, with priority given to those who live closer to school.
MOE said by giving Singaporeans priority over PRs only when balloting is required, it retains the underlying principles of the Primary One registration framework, which reflect a careful balance of considerations, and provide for diversity in Singapore schools, while according citizens a further privilege.
This is on top of a measure introduced in 2010, where Singaporeans are given two ballot slips for each child for Primary One registration, while PRs get one ballot slip per child.
MOE also announced that there will be seven new primary schools next year - five in the new towns of Sengkang and Punggol, and one each in Jurong West and Woodlands.
- CNA/cc