Woman charged over giving false home address during P1 registration to get child enrolled
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The 41-year-old woman was handed one charge of giving false information to a public servant and two charges under the National Registration Act.
PHOTO: ST FILE
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SINGAPORE – A woman who allegedly lied about her home address to enrol her daughter in a primary school was charged on June 5.
The 41-year-old woman was handed one charge of giving false information to a public servant and two charges under the National Registration Act. She cannot be named because of a gag order to protect her child’s identity.
According to court documents, the woman, between June and September 2024, gave false information to the principal and vice-principal of the school during the Primary 1 registration exercise that began in 2023. The name of the school was redacted in charge sheets.
The woman said she intends to plead guilty and will not be engaging a defence lawyer. She is expected to admit to her offences on July 18.
Those convicted of giving false information to a public servant and intending for the public servant to omit the true state of facts can be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both.
In response to The Straits Times’ queries, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said it takes a serious view of parents providing false information to enrol their child in a particular school under the Primary 1 registration exercise.
About nine cases of parents not complying with the Primary 1 registration framework were reported to MOE annually between 2020 and 2024, said the ministry spokesman.
The spokesman added: “MOE will look into every report of non-compliance with the P1 registration framework.
“Upon investigation, if a child is found to have been registered in a school based on false information, such as the use of an address solely for registration purposes without residing there, or if the 30-month stay requirement had not been fulfilled, MOE will transfer the child to another school with vacancies near where the child is staying.”
Under the 30-month stay requirement, it is mandatory for a child who gains priority admission through distance from school to reside at the address used for registration for at least 30 months from the start of the registration exercise.
MOE said it retains sole discretion in the choice of school to transfer the child to for such cases.
“As it is an offence to give false information to a public officer, such cases will also be referred to the police for investigation,” added the spokesman.
In 2018, a woman was fined $5,000
The couple had lied that their residential address was in Bishan when they were still living in Serangoon Garden.
In another case in 2015, a man was fined $5,000 for lying to a school principal about where he lived
The man had indicated his address as being within 1km to 2km of a particular school, allowing his daughter to secure a spot there.
His identity card showed the same address, but the man actually lived in Balestier Road, which fell outside the priority radius.
