For many Singaporean parents, one of the more stressful events is placing their child in a preferred primary school. What that preference is differs. For some, it is the alma mater; for others, a school offering certain academic options; for yet others, one near their home. (1/n)
It strikes me that securing a place close to home is a reasonably modest expectation. This is not guaranteed if the school is especially popular, of course (and parents understand that); but getting into a walking-distance neighborhood school seems eminently fair. (2/n)
Alas, in certain neighborhoods—especially #Anchorvale in #SengkangGRC, where I serve—the preponderance of families with young children has meant that many residents have been unable to place their kids in schools close to home. (3/n)
This is not only extremely frustrating (in some cases, the school is literally across the road), but can impose a significant burden on working parents, who have to drop their kids off at a school much further away. (4/n)
Earlier this year, I asked in Parliament whether there would be revisions to the distance-based criterion for primary schools, given repeated oversubscription in some estates during Phase 2C (I had #SengkangGRC in mind, of course. (5/n)
The Ministry’s response then was that the registration framework undergoes occasional review, and that my suggestion—and those of others—would be kept in mind at such a time. Their full response is here: bit.ly/3A5bd8t (6/n)
As it turns out, in the following March’s budget debates, Minister Wong announced that the spaces under Phase 2C would be reviewed, and last week, @MOEsg announced that spaces under the phase would double in 2022. (7/n) 
I’m delighted with this development, not least because it will make a real difference to many residents in #Anchorvale, which is currently home to 3 primary schools, and lots of young parents. #makingyourvotecount (n/n)
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