How do you get your child enrolled to get the school for your kid? The bad news is that Singapore makes no apologies about prioritizing its own residents — school placements are first provided to citizens, then PRs, and finally non-PR foreigners.
Furthermore, unlike citizens and PRs, foreigners are unable to request a specific school; instead, they must accept whatever is supplied to them (assuming they are lucky enough to be offered a place at all).And what if you're not satisfied with the offer you've received? Or do you believe there was a blunder somewhere along the way? It's too bad. There is no recourse for review or appeal. “You get what you get, and you don't get upset,” parents would tell our children.
Despite the challenges of finding a spot, parents with children in the local system are practically unanimous in their enthusiasm for their choice. Yes, the school day begins — and ends — earlier than its international counterparts (local schools begin between 7–730 a.m. and end around 130 p.m.); yes, the holiday schedule is vastly different from what you are probably used to (the major 6-week break begins in mid-November, with another month free from the end of May); and yes, it may take some time to adjust to the emphasis placed on academi; and yes, it may take some time to adjust to the system.
However, the ability for your child to benefit — at a low cost — from the world's best educational system while being immersed in a bilingual system, as well as the opportunity for your child to develop friendships with local children — friendships that will not end when the child moves away — are huge factors in parents' enthusiasm for the public school system here.
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Patrick sanlin