PRIMARY 1 REGISTRATION EXERCISE (Performance of voluntary service by parents)

PRIMARY 1 REGISTRATION EXERCISE

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(Performance of voluntary service by parents): **

20.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the rationale for requiring parents to perform a minimum of 40 hours of "mandatory" voluntary service in the school of choice, in the primary 1 registration exercise, in the case of a first child in the family; (b) why are parents requested to perform a further 40 hours of voluntary service in the school after the child has been given a place in Phase 2B of the

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registration exercise; (c) is it reasonable to expect parents who have to work a few jobs to perform such voluntary service; (d) is it reasonable to still expect parents to perform such voluntary services since schools are now on a 5-day week; and (e) have these parents been exploited by the schools as free labour in these voluntary services.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: The minimum of 40 hours of voluntary service per year applies to parents who volunteer their service under the Parent Volunteer Scheme and whose children seek to enjoy priority under Phase 2B. The minimum of 40 hours of voluntary service is consistent with the objective of the Scheme to encourage parents to develop personal involvement and commitment to the school. It is equivalent to less than one hour of service per week. This minimum requirement under the Scheme is reasonable since the parent volunteer is seeking priority for his child over other Singaporean children.

Parents applying to join the Scheme should satisfy themselves that they want to contribute meaningfully to the school and are able to commit the time. This is because volunteering often entails some personal sacrifice and adjustment to their other personal commitments. Parent volunteers also need to know that while we want to recognise their contribution by giving their children priority in registration, we cannot guarantee them a place in the school since admission is dependent completely on demand for and availability of school places.

To ensure continuity, some schools make clear to parents before they volunteer that their services are needed for a minimum number of years, including after their children have been admitted to the school. So, again, it is important for parents to satisfy themselves that they can commit the time before they volunteer.

The question of parents being "exploited" does not arise. MOE provides more than enough Primary One places for all children. All our schools are also well provided with good teachers and facilities. Parents who decide to volunteer their services in their school of choice are exercising their own option, to improve their chances of getting their children in under an earlier phase than they would otherwise be eligible for.

But equally important is the fact that past and present parent volunteers have contributed immensely to strengthening parental involvement in our schools. I thank them for their contributions and sacrifices, and hope that many more will come forward to partner our schools to bring about the best education for our children.

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