By Ang Yiying

IT IS still a construction site but Horizon Primary School in Punggol is already attracting interest from parents.

Some have made suggestions about the school uniform - shirts left hanging out and black shoes - and 42 of its 270 vacancies were taken up in Phase 2C of the Primary 1 registration.

A further 20 registered during Phase 2C Supplementary yesterday.

While the parents and children are raring to go, the school at Edgefield Plains will not open its doors until next year. But that does not mean principal-designate Ang Chin Du, 50, can take it easy.

Mrs Ang, who is currently the principal of Eunos Primary School, does not officially take over Horizon until December, but she has been heavily involved in preparations to open it.

As well as dealing with parents during registration, she meets the architects every fortnight to track the progress of the school, which will have 42 classrooms fitted with computers for group work, computer labs and outdoor learning spaces when it is completed.

These spaces could be used for a greenhouse and hydroponics, but specific uses depend on feedback from staff and pupils, said Mrs Ang, who started her career in education in 1979.

'I am excited about starting a new school from scratch. I'm learning new things as well,' she added.

The Primary 1 registration process involves different phases, some with restrictions involving factors such as whether a sibling is already enrolled in the school.

Marketing consultant Agnes Tay, 38, registered her daughter Sim Hayley, six, for Horizon in Phase 2C.

Although Madam Tay's 12-year-old daughter is attending another primary school, she wants Hayley to go to a Punggol school as the family is moving from Aljunied to the area in October.

'Hayley's excited about the new home and new school, and she's looking forward to it.'

Mrs Ang has been heartened by the response of parents, saying they were excited and forthcoming with suggestions, such as the design and colour of the school uniform.

The suggestions will be considered during meetings with school staff. The school has seven teachers on board and more will be posted to the school closer to its opening.

While enrolment at Horizon seems to be progressing smoothly, the Primary 1 registration exercise is traditionally a trying period for parents.

This year, 83 schools had places completely filled by the end of Phase 2C, according to results released early this week. This phase was open to all, unlike earlier phases that were restricted to applicants based on certain criteria.

Of the 178 primary schools operating next year, 77 that had more registrants than vacancies for the phase conducted balloting on Tuesday.

About 39,100 children are expected to be registered for Primary 1 admission next year, compared with about 43,000 this year, said a Ministry of Education spokesman.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.