MOE announced on Thursday (Sept 10) a new two-track scheme for Phase 2C Primary 1 (P1) registration at 12 primary schools. It starts with the 2027 P1 Registration Exercise and applies to children starting P1 in 2028. Phase 2C is open to all children, whether or not they have a prior connection to the school.
MOE says the wider changes aim to improve access for children without prior connections and encourage mixing among students from different backgrounds. Education Minister Desmond Lee said MOE consulted parents, school leaders and alumni associations, and found "broad agreement" that schools should stay open to different families.
The 12 schools in the two-track scheme
These are schools where public housing is under 40 per cent of dwelling units within 2km:
- Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)
- Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
- CHIJ (Katong) Primary
- Methodist Girls' School (Primary)
- Nanyang Primary School
- Ngee Ann Primary School
- Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School
- Raffles Girls' Primary School
- Singapore Chinese Girls' Primary School
- St. Margaret's School (Primary)
- Tanjong Katong Primary School
- Tao Nan School
What the two tracks mean for a family
- Phase 2C places at these schools split equally between children living within 2km and beyond 2km, so your address decides your track.
- There is no further distance priority within either track; if Singapore Citizen applicants exceed a track's places, a ballot is held.
- Unfilled places in one track go to Singapore Citizen applicants in the other, and citizens keep priority over Permanent Residents.
A separate change at most schools
MOE will raise reserved Phase 2C places from 40 to 60 in all schools except those with fewer than 180 P1 places, which stay at 40. The extra 20 come from earlier phases, but Phase 2A and 2B applicants still have priority over Phase 2C. It was announced alongside the two-track scheme.
What the scheme cannot promise
Mr Lee said whether these schools see greater diversity will depend on other factors, including parents' preferences and choices. MOE will periodically review the school list.