is it difficult getting your kid into a local school?

[shannada]

When we tried to get our eldest daughter into a local school a few years ago, we were allocated a school that was several kilometres away. After asking around it seemed that no one thought very much of this school, which was apparently why few local parents had enrolled their children there and why we were "lucky" in being allocated a place.

As foreigners (EP holders), it was always difficult get into a school near your house if it happened to be moderately good (popular) with parents. Forget about the so-called good schools, no chance getting into those as every Singaporean parent has bent over backwards to ensure they get into a higher priority level. Even the moderate/OK schools were filled after Phase 2B (4th out of 7 registration phases). We applied for schools that were mid-way down the pecking order, mostly the CHIJ schools near our house but got no joy.

Since 2012 PRs are now also lumped together with EP holders into the last phase (no longer given the same preferential treatment as Singaporean citizens). The impact is that EP holders have Buckley's chance of getting a half decent school anywhere near their suburb.

Since Foreigners come last and get what is leftover after the first 6 registration phases, another way to see this process is settling for the dregs after everyone else has had their pick of the best, good, moderate/OK, and just below average schools. I am not sure I wanted this for my children, so had no choice but to go the terribly expensive route of International Schools.

Good luck with this, and I hope your experience with getting a place in a local school is better than mine.

[ScoobyDoes]

Since 2012 PRs are now also lumped together with EP holders into the last phase (no longer given the same preferential treatment as Singaporean citizens). The impact is that EP holders have Buckley's chance of getting a half decent school anywhere near their suburb.

Incorrect, PR are still allowed to apply through at least the 2C phase, before EP's phase 3.

[shannada]

Since 2012 PRs are now also lumped together with EP holders into the last phase (no longer given the same preferential treatment as Singaporean citizens). The impact is that EP holders have Buckley's chance of getting a half decent school anywhere near their suburb.

Incorrect, PR are still allowed to apply through at least the 2C phase, before EP's phase 3.

To clarify, I meant that PRs do not get preferential treatment anymore, whereas previously PRs were given the same preference as citizens when it came to allocation/balloting of places in schools in all Phases of the registration process.

The nett effect of which is that all those PRs who could not get their children a place in the average school during the earlier 6 Phases (Phase 1 through to Phase 2 C), will now be competing with EP holders for the remaining places during Phase 3 (the last phase).

What this means in practice for those "good to average" schools, is that this year PRs and EPs are now in effect lumped together in the last phase. For the below average schools, PRs can still be assured of places for their children after all citizens have been fulfilled. EPs can then take the final leftover places for their children, after PRs. Thus, allocation process for a place in a 'good to average" schools now is Citizens first, PRs second, EPs last.

Here is what MOE's website states:

Differentiation by Citizenship

From the 2012 P1 Registration Exercise onwards, when balloting is necessary in a specific phase, Singapore Citizens (SCs) will be given absolute priority over Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs). SCs and PRs will continue to be eligible for the same phases, and all applicants will be admitted if the total number of applications in any phase does not exceed the number of vacancies. However, if the number of applications exceeds the number of vacancies in a specific phase, SCs will be admitted first ahead of PRs, before home-school distance is considered.

[therat]

Incorrect, PR are still allowed to apply through at least the 2C phase, before EP's phase 3.

Incorrect.
PR can apply at Phase 2B or even phase 2A if he or she has a elder sibling study at that school.

The rule basically let citizen get in first before PR.

Example.
Phase 2B
The school has 80 seats.
There are 100 application within 1 km.
If out of these 100 application, 80 are citizens and 20 are PRs.
Then all citizens will get in.
If out of these 100 application, 60 are citizens and 40 are PRs
All citizens will get in. Balance 20 seats, will be ballot among the 40 PRs.

Assume the PR are VP scheme.

Note: Not all citizens entitle to apply at phase 2B.

[ScoobyDoes]

Incorrect, PR are still allowed to apply through at least the 2C phase, before EP's phase 3.

Incorrect.
PR can apply at Phase 2B or even phase 2A if he or she has a elder sibling study at that school.

The rule basically let citizen get in first before PR.

Example.
Phase 2B
The school has 80 seats.
There are 100 application within 1 km.
If out of these 100 application, 80 are citizens and 20 are PRs.
Then all citizens will get in.
If out of these 100 application, 60 are citizens and 40 are PRs
All citizens will get in. Balance 20 seats, will be ballot among the 40 PRs.

Assume the PR are VP scheme.

Note: Not all citizens entitle to apply at phase 2B.

Hence I said 'at least'.....not restricted to, minimally etc...... oh, I give up.

The whole point was to clarify that PR are not 'lumped together with EP holders into the last phase' and no matter how shannada tries to re-word the original post, it was still wrong.

Citizen and PR can all apply in Phase 2C and 2C Supp and yes, if they still can't be bothered to apply or are switching and playing games then can also in Ph.3 where there is still the same pecking order as the whole process combined.