SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Education (MOE) will open up 2,600 more places this year to cater to the larger number of Dragon Year babies born in 2012 registering for Primary 1.
Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, who announced the increased intake in a Facebook post on Wednesday (June 27), said that in all there will be about 41,800 Primary 1 places available in 184 primary schools in 2019.
The 184 schools take into account the 14 primary schools that will be merged into seven schools.
In his Facebook post, Mr Ong said that in planning the number of school places, MOE looks at demand both at the national and local levels to ensure there are sufficient vacancies.
MOE added: "The planning of school places takes into account the current and projected population as well as planned housing development programmes, to ensure that there are sufficient school places to meet the localised demands."
The Straits Times compared the number of Primary 1 places this year and last year, and found that more than 60 schools will be taking in additional students - with most of them adding 30 to 90 places.
These schools include Xinghua Primary in Hougang, Greendale Primary and Horizon Primary in Punggol, and Damai Primary and Bedok Green Primary in Bedok.
Calling the registration exercise "a milestone" for parents to prepare their children for their education journey, Mr Ong encouraged them to choose schools suited to their children's strengths and interests.
MOE announced in March that it would be replacing the manual balloting process with a computerised one. So, parents will not have to physically go down to the schools for balloting.
This year will also involve the first batch of children from MOE kindergartens, who will be given priority to enter the primary school that shares a compound with their kindergarten.
The earlier phases 1 and 2A are for children whose siblings are current pupils of the school, children whose parents are members of the alumni association or children whose parents are members of the school advisory or management committee.
