Extra ballot for children of Singapore citizens to apply for
places in primary schools
December 20, 2009
In another sign that elections will be called anytime soon next
year, the ruling party has allocated one additional ballot for
Singaporeans to apply for places in primary schools for their
children to “sweeten” the ground.
The new rule will take effect from 2010. As of now, Signaporeans
and PRs both have one chance to ballot which had caused
considerable unhappiness among some Singapore citizens whose
children are unable to get into the primary school of their
choice.
Balloting is done when the number of applications is more than
the available vacancies. In popular schools, Singapore citizens
often have to compete with PRs for a place which led many to vent
their frustration on the government for not looking after the
interests of citizens first.
The issue sparked an outcry in August this year when a Mr
Eduard Tay wrote in to the Straits Times Forum complaining
about his son’s unsuccessful application for a place in a
neighborhood school as he has to vie with children registered
under Phase 1A, 2A1, 2A2, 2B and first-generation permanent
residents’ (PRs) children under Phase 2C.
His letter prompted an almost immediate response from an Indian
PR Mrs Sweta Agarwal who justified the equal chance given to PRs
because they “pay taxes and abide by Singapore’s
laws”. She also issued a veiled threat that PRs may
consider leaving Singapore if their children cannot get into the
schools of their choice.
Mrs Agarwal’s insensitive letter triggered a massive furore
among Singaporeans. Mr Jimmy Loke replied a day letter castigating
Mrs Agarwal for not taking up citizenship after a lengthy six years
as a PR.
“Mrs Agarwal has the option of returning to her country to
find a good school for her daughter. Mr Tay’s child does not enjoy
that luxury. As a Singaporean, Mr Tay served national service for
21/2 years and spent 13 more years as a reservist. Should any
government not take care of its citizens first?”, he
added.
The deluge of letters published in the Straits Times Forum
showed that the equal chance enjoyed by PRs in primary school
application is becoming a point of contention among Singaporeans,
especially those from the middle class.
Besides having two chances to ballot, school fees for PRs and
foreign students will also be increased by between $36.50 and $73
per month and between $100 and $400 per month respectively from
2011, while school fees for Singaporeans will remain unchanged.
According to the state media, “these changes were announced by
Minister of Education Ng Eng Hen on Sunday during a community visit
and is part of the Government’s move to sharpen differentiation
between Singaporeans and non-citizens.”
With more and more foreigners and PRs working and living in
Singapore, the additional ballot does not increase the chances of
Singaporeans getting their children into a preferred school since
they now have to compete with a larger pool of applicants.
Furthermore, the token increase in school fees is of scant
consolation to Singaporeans since foreigners and PRs who are able
to enrol their children in Singapore schools should be pretty well
to do in the first place.
Despite widespread resentment and anger at the ruling party’s
pro-foreigner policy, it continues to insist that immigration is
“essential” for Singapore.
In a recent speech, MM Lee Kuan Yew ticked off Japanese leaders
publicly for not “adopting” Singapore’s open-door policy to
replenish its declining population via immigration.
Unless the ruling party makes wholesale changes to its current
policy and limit the influx of foreigners into Singapore, even two
or three ballots may not be sufficient for Singaporeans in the
future.