'Buying places' a thing of the past for local schools

Primary one students dining and interacting at a school canteen while their parents look on. PHOTO: ST FILE
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Making donations to secure places for children in local schools is forbidden today, though it was not unheard of in the past.

One man, whose daughter did not get into a popular Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school through the official Primary 1 registration process, donated $10,000 towards a pond in the school. His daughter was subsequently granted a place.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 26, 2019, with the headline 'Buying places' a thing of the past for local schools. Subscribe