Fewer schools need to ballot for Phase 2C registration

Fewer schools need to ballot for Phase 2C registration

A total of 74 primary schools will conduct balloting tomorrow to allocate places for Phase 2C of the Primary 1 registration exercise - the lowest number in at least six years.

In 2012 and 2013, 90 schools had to conduct balloting in this phase, which is for children with no affiliation to the school. It is considered the most competitive phase of the exercise as it usually sees the most number of schools needing a ballot.

But the number declined to 86 last year, after schools were required to reserve some places for the later phases of registration.

This year, the schools that need to ballot include hot favourites Ai Tong School in Ang Mo Kio, Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) in Dover and Mee Toh School in Punggol. All three will draw lots to allocate places for Singaporean children living within a 1km radius.

At Mee Toh School, for instance, 135 children will fight for 82 spots.

Over at Ngee Ann Primary in Marine Parade, balloting is required only for Singaporean children living outside a 2km radius of the school. Eight children will vie for six places.

A total of 86 schools were oversubscribed when Phase 2C, the fifth of seven phases of Primary 1 registration, ended last Friday.

However, not all oversubscribed schools have to ballot. For instance, if a school has 30 vacancies and 30 Singaporean children living within 1km applying for it, no balloting is required. Those outside the radius would miss out.

Last year, 91 schools were oversubscribed at Phase 2C and 86 had to hold a ballot. In 2011, 87 had to do so, and in 2010, the figure was 80.

Children who fail to secure a place in a primary school after this phase will have to register in Phase 2C Supplementary next Wednesday and Thursday.

leepearl@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on August 4, 2015.
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