PRIMARY 1 REGISTRATION (Enrolment Limit for Malay pupils)

Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed asked the Minister for Education what problems were encountered during the recent Primary 1 registration exercise pertaining to the 25% limit for Malay pupil enrolment and what steps his Ministry will take to rectify anomalies that have arisen, for example, parents not given the opportunity to register their child in the school where their elder child is studying.

The Minister of State for Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

At the request of the Malay Members of Parliament, a limit of 25% was placed on the intake of Primary 1 Malay pupils in this year's Pre-primary and Primary 1 registration exercise. The main problem encountered in the exercise was that in certain geographical zones with a high concentration of Malays, some Malay children were unable to enrol in the neighbourhood schools of their choice. The Ministry will offer the unplaced Malay children places in schools nearest to the school of registration but which still have vacancies and are within the 25% limit. If parents prefer, they can opt for schools where their children are registered regardless of the 25% limit. The 25% limit did not apply to Malay children seeking admission under Phase 1 of the Pre-primary and Primary 1 registration exercise. If the Member for Eunos can give me details where this ruling has been violated, I shall look into this matter.