Primary 1 Registration Framework -Changes in home-school distances

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis, Sengkang GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education (a) for primary schools that required balloting in 2021 and 2022, since the changes to the Primary 1 Registration Framework, what is the change in number and proportion of students who have obtained a place in a primary school residing (i) within 1 km and (ii) within 2 km of their residential address; and (b) what is the Government's assessment of the effectiveness of the change in the registration framework in achieving its stated objectives.

Response

1. Starting from the 2022 P1 Registration Exercise, MOE has doubled the number of Phase 2C reserved places from 20 to 40 so that more children can be enrolled in a school near their home. This is in the educational interest of the child and for the convenience of the family. The posting outcomes for this year's exercise are in line with this policy intent, and we will continue to monitor the outcomes of future P1 Registration Exercises closely.

2. For primary schools that were oversubscribed in Phase 2A, 2B, or 2C in both the 2021 and 2022 P1 Registration Exercises, more students who reside nearer to these schools were admitted. Within 1 km of these schools, about 1,300 more students were admitted in 2022 than in 2021. Within 2 km of these schools, about 1,100 more students were admitted in 2022 compared to 2021. In terms of proportion, this translates to 7% more students who obtained a place within 1 km, and 6% more students who obtained a place within 2 km. About 98% of P1 registrants were able to obtain a place in a primary school of their choice or within 2km of their residence in 2021 and 2022.