New Rule For Primary One Registration 2015

According to a new ruling by the Ministry of Education, children who secure a place for Primary 1 in 2016 based on the proximity of their homes and the school will have to stay at the declared address for at least two-and-a-half years.

Priority is given first to children who live within 1 kilometre of the school, followed by those who live between 1 and 2 kilometres, and lastly to those who are more than 2 kilometres away if the demand exceeds the vacancies available at a school (Ministry of Education Singapore, 2015).

How To Keep Track Of Your Kids When School Starts

Abuse of Priority Scheme

However, there were instances when this priority scheme was abused by parents in order to get their child into the desired schools.

Earlier this year in March, a 35 year old father lied about where he lived in order to get his daughter into a top primary school. The address he provided to the school’s principal belonged to his uncle’s sister and had been rented out. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two weeks in jail. (The Straits Times, 2015)

For Families who have not moved into their new address

For families who have bought a property that is still in the process of construction and plan to move in after its completion, they are required to live at the new address for at least 30 months starting from the time the family moves into the property.

This means if you register your child in 2015 and you only move into the new address in July 2017, the 30 months stay period starts from July 2017 (MOE website).

For families who are already staying near the school

If you have secured a place for their child in Primary 1 next year due to your home’s proximity, you will have to stay at the declared address for at least 30 months from the start of the registration exercise on July 2.

If the new regulation is not met, MOE reserves the right to transfer the child to another school with vacancies.

2015 Primary One Registration Phases and Procedures

Home-school partnership

Duration: 3 July – 27 August 2015

Where: At the school of your choice

If you are registering your child in Phase 2C and Phase 2C Supplementary, you may register online under the MOE Primary One Internet System (P1-IS) for all primary schools.

Phase 1 – Thursday, 2 July 2015 and Friday, 3 July 2015

For a child who has a sibling studying in the primary school of choice

Phase 2A(1) – Tuesday, 7 July 2015

(a) For a child whose parent is a former student of the primary school and who has joined the alumni association as a member not later than 30 June 2014.
(b) For a child whose parent is a member of the School Advisory / Management Committee

Announcement of Results: By Thursday, 9 July 2015

Phase 2A(2) – Monday, 13 July 2015 and Tuesday, 14 July 2015

(a) For a child whose parent or sibling has studied in the primary school of choice
(b) For a child whose parent is a staff member of the primary school of choice

Announcement of Results: By Thursday, 16 July 2015

Phase 2B – Monday, 20 July 2015 and Tuesday, 21 July 2015

(a) For a child whose parent has joined the primary school as a parent volunteer not later than 1 July 2014 and has given at least 40 hours of voluntary service to the school by 30 June 2015
(b) For a child whose parent is a member endorsed by the church/clan directly connected with the primary school
(c) For a child whose parent is endorsed as an active community leader

Announcement of Results: By Friday, 24 July 2015