PRIMARY ONE REGISTRATION (PRIORITY FOR RESIDENTS LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SCHOOL)

Mr Leong Horn Kee asked the Minister for Education whether his Ministry will give higher or equal priority to residents living in close proximity to a school, compared to applicants who are affiliated to the school, in the registration for admission of Primary One pupils into a school.

The Minister for Education (Mr Lee Yock Suan): Mr Speaker, Sir, in the Primary 1 Registration Scheme, parents with school connections are given priority to register their children under Phase 2B. Since the registration exercise last year, I have limited the number of places in Phase 2B to 50% of the places available after Phase 2A. This is to ensure that there will be places available in almost all primary schools for children who live near the school and whose parents are not affiliated to the school.

With this 50% cap on Phase 2B, children who live near the school already have an equal or better chance as Phase 2B applicants of getting into the school, In this year's P1 Registration Exercise, only 2,226 children or 4.3% of the total applicants secured places under Phase 2B. Out of our total of 193 primary schools, 192 schools had vacancies in Phase 2C for children who live near the school. There is therefore no need to amend the Registration Scheme to achieve what the Member wishes.

Mr Leong Horn Kee (Thomson GRC): Sir, may I ask the Minister whether he could give us details on the number of schools where the residents living within a kilometre, or under Phase 2C, are unable to gain admission to the schools.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have the details but I will give it to the Member later on.

Mr Leong Horn Kee: Sir, for these schools that were not able to accommodate the children under Phase 2C, would the Ministry consider expanding the number of classes and even the class size so as to accommodate these children?

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Sir, this has already been done as far as possible. But we must not put in too many children in the school; otherwise it would be difficult for the school to cope with the large number. Where possible, the schools have already done so.