SINGAPORE - The latest phase to register children for Primary 1 next year left 21 out of 94 schools oversubscribed on Wednesday, with the possibility of a ballot next Tuesday.

Pei Tong Primary School, the only school in Clementi with vacancies at Phase 2C Supplementary, had 56 children applying for 51 vacancies.

Others include Bedok Green Primary School, which had 64 children gunning for 58 spots and Marymount Convent School, where 59 children signed up for 42 places.

Phase 2C Supplementary, the sixth out of seven stages, is for Singaporeans and permanent residents who have not secured places for their children.

Earlier stages - Phases 1 to 2B - were for children with links to their schools of choice, such as through siblings, or parents who are alumni or school volunteers, among other connections. Phase 2C is for children with no links to the schools.

Mrs May Wong's daughter, one of the 16 children who applied for 14 spots at Haig Girls' School, may need to go through a ballot next week.

If so, this would be her second time, after an unsuccessful ballot in Phase 2C last week at Kong Hwa School, which is within 1km of her Geylang condominium.

She had also tried to apply for Tanjong Katong Primary School, which advised her to try for another school as it was oversubscribed. Things got worse when the school told her that she qualified for an earlier phase for alumni parents as her former school, Fowlie Primary, had merged with two other schools to become Tanjong Katong Primary. However, by then it was too late.

"Balloting all depends on luck. Now I'm worried about my younger son," said the 35-year-old freelance jewellery designer.