Why alumni priority should not stay

The limited number of vacancies in popular primary schools after Phase 2A(2) of the Primary 1 registration shows how untenable the situation is ("Few places left in popular schools"; Wednesday).

The Education Ministry should immediately review and change the system.

It is extremely frustrating for parents to see coveted places in popular schools going to others because their mothers did not send them to these schools decades ago.

Alumni who do not contribute to their alma maters, except by paying membership fees, must not have unbridled priority when it comes to enrolling their children; limit such places to 20 per cent of the total vacancies.

Such a culture of entitlement has no place in Singapore, where meritocracy is highly valued.

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