Phase 2C, the most competitive stage in Primary 1 registration, sees intense demand as many schools head to balloting.
SINGAPORE: Nearly half of Singapore’s primary schools were oversubscribed during Phase 2C of the 2023 Primary 1 registration exercise, underscoring the competitiveness of this phase. Out of 181 schools, 85 were oversubscribed, with 82 requiring balloting. This is a slight decrease from last year’s 88 oversubscribed schools.
Phase 2C, open to all children regardless of prior connections to the school, had over 13,700 applicants vying for more than 17,700 available spots. Registration for this phase ran from Aug 1 to Aug 3, with ballot results expected on Aug 15.
Top Oversubscribed Schools
The most oversubscribed school was Princess Elizabeth Primary in Bukit Batok, with 283 applicants competing for 48 spots. Other highly sought-after schools included Nan Hua Primary (192 applicants for 40 spots) and Northland Primary in Yishun (200 applicants for 44 vacancies). Rosyth School and St Hilda’s Primary School completed the top five, all requiring balloting for Singaporean children living within 1km of the schools.
Balloting Details
Balloting occurs when the number of applicants exceeds the available slots. Priority for admission is based on distance from the school:
Singaporean children within 1km
Singaporean children between 1km and 2km
Singaporean children beyond 2km
Permanent residents (PRs) in the same distance categories
Schools conducting balloting include prestigious names such as Nanyang Primary, Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), and Catholic High School (Primary).
Reserved Places for Phase 2C
Since 2022, 40 places have been reserved for Phase 2C in each school, doubling the previous allocation. This policy aims to provide all children, regardless of prior connections, a fair chance to attend schools near their homes.
Next Steps
The subsequent Phase 2C Supplementary registration is for children who were not admitted in earlier phases. Vacancies will be updated on Aug 15, and applications open on Aug 17 at 9am, closing the following day at 4:30pm. Results for this phase will be announced on Aug 29.
