is it difficult getting your kid into a local school?

[taxico]

the reason i'm asking is because over lunch (today) with a friend who works at MOE, i mentioned that i read on a few threads here it seems expats are finding it difficult to get their kid into local schools.

her opinion is that unless the child/parents do not speak (much) english and/or are not of normal intellect, it is not difficult at all to enter a local school.

she did opine that many (especially asian) expats are particular about the choice of schools offered to the child, and that pickiness may be why the child did not enter a local school...

is this true? (oh, i am assuming local schools = local primary/secondary schools)

[sundaymorningstaple]

Sounds to me like she is a typical civil servant regurgitating the same old pap. It is getting very difficult to get into ANY local school now unless it's way, way out in the boonies somewhere as the recent changes put PRs behind those citizens closest to the school (1st) and Citizens from anywhere on the island (2nd) and have to compete for places in the 3rd phase (if there IS a third phase - usually all spots have dried up). THEN if there are anything left, foreigners can have a go and compete against each other if there are the miniscule chance of a spot still available.

[movingtospore]

Yes. Would like to give your friend a piece of my mind.

[Dalia]

I guess we were lucky, we got in without a problem some 6 months ago.
But it was very nerve-wracking for me since we got in just a few days before the school started. I have noticed that more and more FT people are looking for a local school spot. Fewer and fewer people are getting good expat money.

It is hard to say if it's going to get harder to get a spot. There are more FT workers on local packages, but on the other hand some jobs are moving to
India and China so some people are moving out of Singapore too.

[movingtospore]

Dalia, out of curiousity, for what age? Are you a PR? I've given up at this point.

[ScoobyDoes]

I've been studying the take-up rate for local schools the past couple of years, gearing up for signing our kid into P1 in a few months and, technically, yes, it is easy to get foreign kids into A primary school...... although just maybe not the one you want.

The government, by (international, I think) law, must provide a school place for any child living here..... it's a human rights thing.

All things in, it might mean an auwful commute or a relocation of the family so we've been lucky to extend our lease by just 6-7months so we can find out what school our son ends up in, and move nearby, if necessary, before the start of the school year. The school we've been looking at, though, usually still has space so fingers crossed.

[craigandmeagan]

Hello
We have just moved from Australia with 2 girls aged 10 & 6 we live on the East Coast we have been here for 9 weeks I have gone to 9 schools in our area in person with all the required documents trying to get in for P1 & P4 all schools are booked on the waiting list. I'm not interested in International School as its was to expensive but would love the girls to be in local school with local kids and to make many friends here too but how many schools should we apply for ? Not sure what too do ? and where to go ? Any ideas would be great

[cw1483]

I don't know if this helps....but a list of 2011 Phase 3 vacancy list can be found at:
http://www.elite.com.sg/phase3C-vacancy-2009.page

Maybe try those schools first.

[movingtospore]

I've been studying the take-up rate for local schools the past couple of years, gearing up for signing our kid into P1 in a few months and, technically, yes, it is easy to get foreign kids into A primary school...... although just maybe not the one you want.

The government, by (international, I think) law, must provide a school place for any child living here..... it's a human rights thing.

All things in, it might mean an auwful commute or a relocation of the family so we've been lucky to extend our lease by just 6-7months so we can find out what school our son ends up in, and move nearby, if necessary, before the start of the school year. The school we've been looking at, though, usually still has space so fingers crossed.

This wasn't my experience - I was told by MOE that there was no room in P1 anywhere on the Island for foreigners. Two years in a row. I called every school anywhere even remotely nearby and was told they were full. There was a finally a school way out by the airport that said yes - but that would have been a two-hour commute one way for a 730 am start. So..we gave it up and went for International Schools which is probably a better fit for us, culturally. I honestly don't think the government cares at all about providing school spots for foreigners and there are plenty I've met who could not get in to local schools.

[ScoobyDoes]

The actual case probably lies somewhere in between.

UNICEF is perfectly clear on Child's Rights and given that children are not in a place to protect or fight for themselves the codes drawn up are more demanding than for some others.

Survival and development rights: These are rights to the resources, skills and contributions necessary for the survival and full development of the child. They include rights to adequate food, shelter, clean water, formal education, primary health care, leisure and recreation, cultural activities and information about their rights. These rights require not only the existence of the means to fulfil the rights but also access to them. Specific articles address the needs of child refugees, children with disabilities and children of minority or indigenous groups.

Given the way our family has been made to jump through hoops since my EP renewal was first refused, appealed and renewed for three years, I don't might a another fight. Governments must legally provide spaces, and not pass the problem onto money hungry private individuals at International Schools, since this too is against other rights. I appreciate we're talking about Singapore here but bad press is bad press.

[hapa-girl]

I'm going to apply for P1 this year, we are not PRs so we will see how we go. Today I saw this on yahoo singapore

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/primary-1-scho ... y-3rd.html

What struck me most was the vitriolic reader comments about foreigners. If I do get my child in, is she going to be surrounded by this? It really made me sad to read it.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Nah, the kids are really that bad, it's their parents that are the kiasu ones. The kids WILL, however, grow up to be just as bad. Stupidity & Ignorance here is not confined to certain races or income levels.

[movingtospore]

The actual case probably lies somewhere in between.

UNICEF is perfectly clear on Child's Rights and given that children are not in a place to protect or fight for themselves the codes drawn up are more demanding than for some others.

Survival and development rights: These are rights to the resources, skills and contributions necessary for the survival and full development of the child. They include rights to adequate food, shelter, clean water, formal education, primary health care, leisure and recreation, cultural activities and information about their rights. These rights require not only the existence of the means to fulfil the rights but also access to them. Specific articles address the needs of child refugees, children with disabilities and children of minority or indigenous groups.

Given the way our family has been made to jump through hoops since my EP renewal was first refused, appealed and renewed for three years, I don't might a another fight. Governments must legally provide spaces, and not pass the problem onto money hungry private individuals at International Schools, since this too is against other rights. I appreciate we're talking about Singapore here but bad press is bad press.

You go Scoobydoes! Good luck.

[davidcf]

Good luck..

[reginajean]

Hello
We have just moved from Australia with 2 girls aged 10 & 6 we live on the East Coast we have been here for 9 weeks I have gone to 9 schools in our area in person with all the required documents trying to get in for P1 & P4 all schools are booked on the waiting list. I'm not interested in International School as its was to expensive but would love the girls to be in local school with local kids and to make many friends here too but how many schools should we apply for ? Not sure what too do ? and where to go ? Any ideas would be great

It would increase your chances greatly if you apply to schools nearer to your home.. Geography of your residence ups your chances!