SCHOOL ADMISSION POLICY ON FOURTH CHILD (Review)

Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for Education whether he will review the school admission policy in relation to children who are the fourth and beyond in the family.

The Minister for Education (RAdm Teo Chee Hean): Mr Speaker, Sir, the school admission policy, including the current Primary One Registration Scheme, does not have family size or birth order as factors for consideration. The Ministry of Education has no current plans to review this position.

Mr Sin Boon Ann (Tampines): Would the Minister agree that the policy of the Government is to have more children if you can afford it? Surely, according priority to these children would be a step in the right direction.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, that is of course a suggestion which is possible, but we have no current plans to review our position. The position is a reasonable one in which all the children who go to school have the same amount of priority.