The suggestion at the end to stop inherited/parental privilege from factoring into school admissions is so good. I can already hear the outraged crying from the elite upper class parents lmao 🤣

Every school is a good school yes, but its all about having a higher percentage of "good peers/classmates". High tier schools tend to have more students who are of a better home (financially and a better family setup), and thus, leads to a better educated children. Mix with the "right" set of classmates, a better chance for a child to not stir away to unorthodox behavior.

Phase 1 makes sense in convenience sense as parents should only need to send kids to 1 school. 2A2 also same but should abolish the affiliated kindergarten clause. The Alumni(2A(1)), Volunteer (2B), Church and Clan(2B) Phases should be abolished. Phase 2B goes directly against our pledged values of "regardless of race and religion" and People are "volunteering" cough*money* to schools this together with 2A(1) is how enclaves of elites and elite schools are formed. Direct donation to schools should be banned, want to donate then donate to MOE and MOE direct the donations fairly to schools that need it more.

A school uniform is meant for uniformity ,but now we have uniform Vs uniform competition( wealth of parents)

this is so sad :( it's untrue to call ourselves a meritocracy when we don't have true equality even at the starting point

As a parent, the best primary school is the one nearest to my home. I believe that a child can excel in any neighborhood school. What makes the difference is having supportive parents and a self-motivated child. I have never believed in "every popular school is a good school". I have been through this and am done with it. My child is in the uni now.

Doing well- less time and effort in settling disciplinary issues that affects the class learning environment due to lesser students with complicated backgrounds- could be less privileged family that has trouble in basic needs that create stress and disputes in family that affect the child's well being and behaviour. Imagine a class of 30 children whose basic needs are met, sleep well, eat well, play well, study well and mostly communicates well with one another with more higher intellectual conversation and healthier environment vs a class of 30 where 10 kids live in messy, bad air quality, poor lighting, bad sleep, eat junks and unhealthy food, lack discipline in time management, little quality play or expose and interact to negative crowd (when many doesn't know what's right or wrong due to no good role model in life) , slur vulgarities in school, couldn't convey or express thoughts verbally or successfully due to lack of exposure to quality reading or conversation that leads to more conflicts and troubles. Then, the teacher has to stop the class time to time to manage those challenges. It took up the time of the other 10 who are serious and wanted to learn. But I guess that the kids with elite background might have other sets of challenges in managing expectations and mental stress, but that, affect more to individuals (which can be settled after school or find pockets of time to counsel) and not affect others in a daily class setting. Which environment has better chance to excel better? The elite schools probably has less families with basic needs challenges. Can I say it = less challenges in disciplinary issues = less time used to manage those challenges but able to put those time in better learning or in sports or other interests? Those schools that excel well in cca, many are the 'elite' schools as well. Performing well requires good discipline, good motivation, resources, space and equipment. And these are added upon when the basic needs are met? Just a perspective. Doesn't mean children with less privileged background, in relatively poor learning environment can't do well, but it takes so much for a kid to do well in such adversity. Having an adult to work through different environment and excel is tough. What more to the kids who wants to do well but with limited resources and people who couldn't provide help or don't bother?

Meritocracy is a joke. This primary 1 registration system just amplified it.

Wow, I am kind of shocked to hear that the first couples' world "was collapsing after their children were initially rejected". And to spend 20k just for primary schools? What about universities? Can't believe parents are so competitive and mentally fragile these days...

I don't think it can be fairer for all. My aunt, in order to get into one of the top primary school in Singapore, joined the parent group association and volunteered constantly, donated $1000 dollar to school. Her son successfully enrolled as she made a lot of connections along the way. So it's isnt always fair

My school is a "popular" school and one of the bad side effects is that everyone is crazy rich.

You can send your children to the best schools, but can they cope with the expectations? For me, I just choose the school within walking distance.

Whole world collapse because he didn't get in? Seriously?

Every school is different. The "goodness" of the school depends on the administration (management) and the teachers. Maybe schools these days should showcase their principals and teachers instead. I choose university to study under certain professors, not for brand name of school.

I’m sure if you are from neighbourhood schools and you met the cut-off points, you will be able to enter RI, ACS, RGS, HCI, RV, DH…etc

There is more primary and Secondary schools situated in the east than anywhere else in sg. Its super intense.

I live less than 100 meters from a popular school and couldn't get in during my time . But every morning, the road outside is jammed with cars sending kids to the sch from far locations which hinders the residents also also since its a single lane. My neighbours kids also couldn't get in when they tried some 10 years later. The school gave preference to alumni and those with connections. So proximity didn't help when we had no connections.

but do "good schools" teach your children basic humanity moral values or just getting a push to good grades only?

Y'all know what's more radical but feasible? 1)Having a primary school placement done for every child at birth 2) better geographical spread of schools ,if need be,relocate schools 3) allow all schools to offer the same CCA and programs On the topic of good schools and "not-so-good" schools, I'm curious if all schools hve access to the same budget

Even with the changes in P1 registration, without changes in the parents' mindset, time + effort + money is still needed to secure a place. The infrastracture of the schools, regardless of where they are in the ranking, is arguably of the same quality. It's the perceived social capital that makes certain schools are more popular than others.

Basically what they are saying is, the richer you are, the more options you have. So don't say its public education

And here I always thought that education in Singapore is all the same .. that all schools are good, whether it is a neighbourhood government school or the "elite" semi-private schools. What causes these changes ? My cousins, siblings & I all studied in neighbourhood government schools growing up. I do not think we did badly when we grew up and in our career. When it comes to career , it is not so much how well you did academically but how good are your work attitude, your soft skills (people relationship skills and, to an extent , your political skills LOL). Well, looks like getting in primary schools in Singapore now is like how a parents try to register his child to a school in Hong Kong.

“our whole world collapsed” ….. it’s js a primary sch ¿ what are they gg to do for uni 🥶

I worked in MOE school as teaching staff, i can say schools dont determine a child outcome in life. First factor is parents display of value towards life as a role model, eg grits, resilience, determination, good daily habits routine, wont get influenced easily. As long one has these values, no matter where she/he goes, they will still succeed in life.

I heard of stories of children come back to Singapore to study for two weeks every semester to occupy a spot in one of the branded primary school, when they are station oversea.

The narrative that all schools are good schools glosses over the issues in the system, instead of addressing them.

Before the reveal I thought to myself, she's got that SCGS accent and I was right! lol

Children should just go to schools near their house and use the time saved to rest or play. Parents' cars can also stop clogging up morning traffic please. Inefficiencies all around when schools prioritise applicants staying so far away.

With this difficulties on P1 regist and stressfull students on PSLE, it considered that Childfree is the best option like in Japan and South Korea. Schools are empty and close due to less of birth rate.

Love the NIE spokesperson's idea!

Instead of Steve Chia /CNA getting experts on camera, why not get high level MOE chief to come on camera?

Personally, like the situation in NZ (in Auckland), there are better schools in some places which normally rank in the top ten of the country. There are parents who would spend money to send their child to a better school.

A school uniform doesn't define any students either being bad or good. Being a student, in life and in school, mistake or disappointment will happen but is not a bad thing because students will learn and experience from this to become a better person. Having a bad grades during an exam is not a death sentence, because is an exam to test students understanding abilities in school and studies. And comparing in between siblings in one family is really toxic and should be avoided at all cost.

As a parent who lived and studied in singapore till i was 16, i find the entire system stupid. I would love to come back and live in singapore with my children, but holy crap this is the main reason why i will not.

Can we start prioritising students by distance from home instead of grades? I feel that those whom are deemed "strong" can help out those whom are deemed "average." I mean, sharing is caring man. Why life got to be so hard and complicated?

Even if your kid gets in the elite primary school, it still depends on what class they are in ! if they are not in the top grades class, the teaching material also defers... what more between schools. Singapore Education system sucks.. all the way to Uni.. no expats will send their kids to NTU/NUS.. all of them send their kids to US/UK/Europe.. NTU/NUS are only accepting students from regional countries... and Singapore Govt also constantly "reserve" places for regional top scholars to offer them scholarship and then PR !

my aunt & uncles literally used their savings to get a 1 mil ++ condo near bukit timah with the chance to enter NYPS. not to mention the many volunteering that is done

Perhaps parents should think of the TEACHERS. if it's the teachers who make the child do well, then all moe has to do is rotate teachers more often. Also these programmes that the school offers is based on how rich the school is, not every rich school is an elite school.

Wow! That is very reassuring to know. But just curious mind if you can share with us which school Ministers and MPs send their offsprings to study?

In Malaysia some children can't even go to school.. luck to be Singaporean 🇸🇬

Elite Schools Mostly located in Bukit Timah area. Then Bishan. Followed by scattered in Central & North -East Areas.

The fact that some of us are having issues with this is because we have this notion of bad schools and that we somehow see ourselves better than these schools and kids within. Let that sink in for awhile.

I challenge MOE to remove all phases and only stick to promixity to schools. Rented properties not counted if the parents own other properties.

MOE pls listen to the last guy. He makes the most sense.

How good is it to transport small children in primary schools all over the city. The one to two hour commute would be time that takes away from the child's study time.

I'm fine with any proposed changes radical or not, but would suggest to do it only after 7 years. Imagine parents who have already invested all they could to get their children to the school of their choice only to know the goal post have been shifted. You want a paradigm shift, that's fine but also please, have some foresight like our late LKY.

All schools are good schools, but it's about which schools are better

but he illiterate how did he get into RI?

To be fair, it isn’t only about whether the schools are “perceived to be academically better schools”. Most of the schools on the list have affiliation like acs and catholic high. Then how can all schools be good schools

Feels like a worry only for the privileged. I once had a rich relative who advised me to rent a room close to the elite JC I got into because it was on the other side of the island, but hello. We poor as heck sia. You gonna pay for us, is it? In the end, I transferred to a neighbourhood JC and got my revenge by being far happier, living tgt w my family and doing well after studying hard. Last time we met, he still scoffed at me for that. His daughter's just 6, but I already pitied her, because with a parent like that? I can already see how much stress she's gonna be put under in the future

Why not get into a least popular school and who knows your child can easily get into any activities and be top in class or school?

i just got in with no hassle for malaysian primary sjkc long ago.

All schools are good schools, but some are better than others.

i work in a university and almost everything mentioned here are things that i hear during admissions season for the university. except they're about primary school kids. that can't be right.

Property IS parental privilege. To mitigate privilege you need affirmative action. How about reserving x spaces only for low income families? That’s what everyone is trying to hint at after all by talking about diversity, privilege etc. Those saying proximity should be the only factor - don’t fool ourselves - those in phase 2a and b ALREADY get properties near the school today. Property is the MAIN game to play today. The other layers just give added assurance.

I would say all are equally good. The quality of the school is dependent on the students that entered it. A good school that keeps accepting good students would definitely continue to be good. While other not so good school needs to spend more time on classroom management rather than teaching. You put a supposedly good teacher into a not so good classroom, he may not be able to cope with classroom management.

it's a pity that the education system lacks wisdom from the start, being driven by factors of WEALTH/resources instead of true equity. So really, where in there lies the value of the schools then? To measure it by the academic achievements of the students is simply shallow. On the contrary, examples of the "products" of these so called top schools can be seen reflected in our leaders.

To be honest, the type primary school does not matter. Many students in the neighborhood school tend to do better than those who are in the "Elite " or GEP schools.

Just follow what the last guy said and its all good.

Love this campaign! Funny!!

The idea to increase the distance count from 2km to 4km is seriously preposterous. I mean he already highlighted the fact that the South of Singapore is where most of the good schools are located in and where most upper class people are. By suggesting to increase the zone and encompass the entirety of the South, he literally ensured the South get even richer with better access to pretty much every good school! That is the most idiotic plan I've ever seen! To be truly a sound radical, it would be to force all the good schools to be evenly distributed across Singapore and then ensure that non of them are built in range to landed estates or condo enclaves. Good schools should be built within HDBs, unless no choice. That would be more fair.

Interesting

You know are really trying to understand all of this and to me it doesn't make any sense whatsoever to do they are doing, it just seems weird, now that am working l have realized that everyone despite where they learnt are just the same.

so does meritocracy even exist….

A/Prof Tan. I hope you enter into politics. Will give you my vote. Current system is far from equitable.

Their whole world collapsed just because their son didn’t get into the school of choice?! These parents need to grow up seriously.

I joined P1 in 2020, no siblings tho and people think I’m P1 . It’s 2023….

I think Singapore is now diverting away from rote learning and are more dynamic in introducing critical thinking and creativity in their math and science subjects when I looked at my primary 3 son’s math and science homework, they no longer ask straight forward questions and now ask in a way which allows kids to think of solving the question to get the answer and also sometimes ask open ended questions without a specific answer in science to students to get their opinion. I think 20 years ago, my generation had more rote learning and memorisation and less explanation on how to solve problems using mathematics applying into real life examples. I feel that PISA tests should also include critical thinking and creativity tests for a more holistic overview of the educational strengths each country possesses.

loook into 2b and the blooody corruption happening lol

Every school a good school but not every teacher, a good teaching example. Not every school environment a good environment for that particular child.... Lets not forget there are toxic parents, teaching/school staffs around too, same can be said to good parents and teaching/school staffs. And when about toxicity, to each person's view.. For example, a more motivated oerson may sees an unmotivated person as toxic, a religious person sees a free thinker toxics. So nope, good schools may not be good if your child happens to mixed in the toxic minority of that school. What I think I can do is to choose the best school I want my child to be confortable with in all expects. Of course to avoid schools with more enrollment from students of complicated family backgrounds.. It was never the children fault, but the parents(adults) who give them such backgrounds and still leting them living in such background... Group Influence is an importance... as child tend to struggle if the group(class) isn't suit her needs.

It will not be fair lah. How can a road sweeper child be in maris stella. 😛

if its fair it isnt singapore

No got money got status then = good school without these how can there be lower income children in good school.

20:46 Map Brain kids

Levelled down to bring bottom up. Useless bunch. Now creating mess in MOH.

Is no one going to talk about the car he's driving?!

Dr Jason: "Ah but Steve, we are not trying to make everyone happy". I quite agree with him on his proposed framework. Policies shouldn't aim to make everyone happy. Its should only aim to make things fairer for majority of the people.

这个就是内卷 !

And we have these kids going to good schools becoming voyeurs.

China is rotating teachers so that schools cannot hoard the best teachers. Can we learn from this?

life is nvr fair so do watever necessary to try to be better.

does pri sch rlly matter lol ?? in the end still take same psle got no difference wtf sec school different case ah got the elite and what not but still omg just pri school already like this 😃 imagine if sec school and uni later on 🥲 I fear for the kids mental well being

i always believe this saying from old days "if you can study means you can study, regardless which school you studying( only refers to Pri, Sec, JC). Why? simple, we are all taking SAME PSLE paper, SAME O level paper, SAME A level paper. if branded school kid get 5A, low ses school got 5A, I agree low ses 5A score is definitely smarter(score/grade comparison only)

Relocate and spread the Bukit Timah schools across Singapore.

ANOTHER LAW COATED LEGACY ADMISSION IN SINGAPOOR... BUSINESS AS USUAL,,, PERMANENT RESIDENT LIKE ME AND MY FAMILY ALWAYS 2ND CLASS... THE VERY REASON I DUMPED MY SINGAPOOR PR. NO POINT... UNLESS U COME OUT WITH MULTI MILLIONS OF DOLLARS... MY KIDS WILL NEVER APPLY CERTAIN SCHOOLS.

*Black Man* in the village says HI..... From USA now living in Leyte Philippines

who would want to go to a neighbourhood school even

😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣

That’s why, the best solution is to have BOTH location and alumni benefit. Double win.

Lol I frm peichun

yes everygood IS a good school BUT not every school has a good student :)

Another way to make it uniform is by making parents paying more taxes to go to these "better" school..."better" = paying more taxes...

Everyone who tries to type an essay just to justify this video probably couldn’t get good results when they were younger and ended up in a “neighbourhood school” and want to make themselves feel better

One more thing , so what if you are the top scorer of PSLE. It helps to open more doors but it is not a sole determiner factor that you will do well in life.

These Parents are horrible