SINGAPORE – A total of 30 primary schools were oversubscribed during Phase 2B of the Primary 1 registration process this year, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Thursday (July 25). Phase 2B is the final stage where children with specific ties to a school can apply for admission in the following academic year. In this phase, 20 places are reserved for students in each school.
Compared to last year, the number of oversubscribed schools in Phase 2B has slightly decreased. In 2023, there were 31 oversubscribed schools at this stage.
Most Popular Schools in Phase 2B
Holy Innocents’ Primary School in Hougang was the most oversubscribed school in Phase 2B this year, with 57 applicants competing for just 20 spots.
Following closely was Ai Tong School in Bishan, which saw 53 applicants vying for 20 places, and Nan Chiau Primary School in Sengkang, which received 112 applications for 44 vacancies.
Other oversubscribed schools included Chongfu Primary School in Yishun and Nanyang Primary School in Bukit Timah.
In total, 2,207 applications were submitted during Phase 2B this year, with 6,325 spots available. The registration process began at 9 AM on Monday and closed at 4:30 PM on Tuesday.
Balloting Process
Out of the 30 oversubscribed schools, 26 schools will proceed with a balloting process. Balloting occurs when the number of applicants exceeds the number of vacancies available, and it can take place during any stage, from Phase 2A to Phase 2C Supplementary.
Priority admission is determined in the following order:
- Singaporean citizens residing within 1 km of the school.
- Singaporean citizens living between 1 km and 2 km.
- Singaporean citizens residing more than 2 km away.
- Permanent residents (PR) within the same distance groups.
Phase 2B is specifically for parents who have registered as school volunteers no later than July 1 of the year before Primary 1 registration. These volunteers must have completed at least 40 hours of voluntary service by June 30 of the current year.
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Parents who are endorsed by a church or clan directly affiliated with the primary school, as well as parents recognized as active community leaders, are also eligible to apply under this phase.
Next Phase: 2C
The subsequent phase, Phase 2C, is open to all children, regardless of affiliation or ties to the school. The number of vacancies available for Phase 2C will be announced next Monday, ahead of the registration period starting at 9 AM on Tuesday.
To ensure equal access to all primary schools, MOE has reserved 40 places in every school for Phase 2C.
