Changes to P1 registration framework includes more P1 places & 2-track scheme in Phase 2C
12 schools in Singapore will reserve Primary 1 (P1) places for pupils living more than 2km away, as part of a new two-track scheme to be implemented when the next P1 Registration Exercise kicks off in 2027.
This was one of the changes announced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Thursday (10 Sept), in a bid to make P1 admission more open and inclusive.
Source: Google Maps
More P1 places in Phase 2C for most schools
The latest changes to the P1 Registration Framework mainly involve Phase 2C, which is open to all children regardless of their prior connections to a school.
Currently, the number of reserved places in Phase 2C is 40 for all schools.
From the 2027 exercise — for children starting P1 in 2028 — this will increase to 60 places.
However, it will remain at 40 for schools with intakes of fewer than 180 pupils.
Source: Desmond Lee on Facebook
The number of reserved places in Phase 2B — for children whose parent has volunteered or who has connections to a religious or clan group — will remain at 20.
2-track Phase 2C for 12 S’pore schools
MOE noted that there are schools located in neighbourhoods with “significantly less public housing” than the national average.
As priority is currently based on the distance of the child’s home from the school, increasing the number of Phase 2C places for these schools may not sufficiently ensure that students from different socioeconomic backgrounds have access.
Thus, a two-track scheme for Phase 2C will be introduced, starting with 12 schools where public housing accounts for less than 40% of the dwelling units within 2km. They are:
Source: Ministry of Education
MOE will review the list periodically but does not expect frequent changes, “as housing profiles do not change drastically over a short period of time”.
30 P1 places reserved for kids living over 2km away
Under the two-track scheme, places in Phase 2C will be equally distributed between both tracks — i.e. 30 places in each track.
One track will be for those who live within 2km of the school, and the other will be for those who live beyond 2km.
Within each track, no home-school distance priority will exist, but Singapore citizens will continue to enjoy priority.
If one of the tracks has fewer applicants than places, the extra places will be allocated to the other track.
If the number of applicants exceeds the number of places in a track, balloting will be conducted.
Source: Desmond Lee on Facebook
Changes will broaden access to primary schools: MOE
MOE said the changes to the P1 Registration Framework will broaden access to primary schools while retaining a “meaningful share of places” for those living nearby.
They were made after considering feedback during engagements with stakeholders including parents, school leaders and alumni associations, where “most agreed” that primary schools should remain open and accessible to families from different backgrounds, it noted.
They are also part of MOE’s continual review of policies that seek to further improve access and support greater inclusivity in our primary schools, it added.
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Featured image adapted from Google Maps, Google Maps, Google Maps and Google Maps.
