25th June 2007

Primary One Registration

Six new schools will be opened in 2008, around new housing estates in Bukit Panjang, Punggol, Sembawang, Woodlands and Seng Kang.

Despite the opening of these schools, there will still be about 6000 fewer places available to students registering for Primary One next year.

This has been a result of the adjustment done after the number of places in schools was increased to cater to the students born in the Dragon year who enrolled in Primary One this year.

The Dragon year is deemed auspicious in the Chinese Zodiac calendar and the result of this believe produced 5546 more births in year 2000 compared to 2001.

It’s not all bad news though. The Education Ministry has assured parents that there will be sufficient places for pupils and that several schools will be merging with neighbouring schools to control the enrolment.

Parents have expressed their concerns over the availability of popular schools. Some prefer to send their children to schools with proven track records compared to news schools, despite encouragement from education experts and principals regarding proximity of schools to homes.

This year the Primary One registration will take place from 8am to 11am and 2.30pm to 4.30pm from the 3 rd July to 30 th August 2007.

More information can be found on The Education Ministry’s website – www.moe.gov.sg/esp/schadm/p1/

Source: The Straits Times, Friday, 22 June 2007.