Of good schools and level fields

New rules for primary school registration aim to improve access and inclusivity for popular Singapore schools, but may end up sealing current inequalities instead.

Jude Chan

Published Fri, Nov 12, 2021 · 05:51 PM

Education

AS her daughter turns 5 next year, Angela (not her real name) could soon be looking for a new home. She is keen for her daughter to enrol at her alma mater, a popular school along Dunearn Road. But with revised rules for Primary 1 registration slated to kick in from next year, Angela is worried that her daughter may be squeezed out of a spot.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) in September set in motion changes that effectively give greater priority to those living close to the school, at the expense of those with other links to the school, such as alumni and clan associations.

The ministry also revised the methodology for calculating the distance between home and school for all primary schools, resulting in a slightly larger coverage of homes considered to be within 1km and 2km of the school of choice. This will r…