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Tag: DAG

  • Early P1 Ballot Likely At 5 Popular Schools; Not For Malay Students

    Early P1 Ballot Likely At 5 Popular Schools; Not For Malay Students

    Parents hoping to place their six-year-olds in five of the most popular primary schools this year may face a ballot next week.

    The schools are CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, Nanyang Primary, Nan Hua Primary, Red Swastika School and Catholic High School.

    A total of 29 schools were left with fewer than half of their vacancies after Phase 2A1, the second of seven Primary 1 registration stages, closed on Wednesday. Last year, only 19 schools were in this situation.

    The phase, which follows Phase 1 for children with siblings currently studying in the school, is for children whose parents had joined the school alumni association at least one year ago, or are on the school advisory committee.

    The next phase, 2A2, is for children whose parents or siblings are former pupils, or whose parent is a staff member at the school. Registration starts next Tuesday and ends the next day.

    A rule introduced in 2014, which requires all primary schools to set aside 40 places for children in the later stages, may also put a squeeze on places available for the next phase. The 40 places will be split equally between children registering in Phases 2B and 2C.

    In the past three years, balloting has been taking place at an earlier stage of the registration exercise, partly as a result of this new rule.

    Phase 2B is for children whose parents are school volunteers, active community leaders or have ties with church or clan associations directly connected with the schools. Phase 2C is for children with no ties to the school.

    After reserving the 40 places, CHIJ St Nicholas has only seven spots left for Phase 2A2, after 95 children registered this week.

    Nanyang Primary and Nan Hua Primary have 10 and 19 places respectively left for Phase 2A2, while Red Swastika and Catholic High have 23 and 31 spots respectively left for Phase 2A2.

    Communications professional Ow Yong Weng Leong successfully registered his daughter for a place at Red Swastika School this week.

    “The school offers Higher Chinese from Primary 1, so I hope it will help my daughter in becoming bilingual as she currently speaks English more,” said the 37-year-old.

     

    Editors Note:

    Based on sources, students who take Malay as a second language cannot enrol in any of the five popular primary schools namely CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, Nanyang Primary, Nan Hua Primary, Red Swastika School and Catholic High School (https://www.moe.gov.sg/a…/primary-one-registration/vacancies). Perhaps if they make millions, one day one of them they can become President of Singapore. What a shame.

    Is the kind of elite tokenistic multiracialism the DAG believes in?

     

    Source: StraitsTimes

  • Dr Tan Cheng Bock: My Challenge Is To Uphold The Constitution, Not Undermine Race And Religion

    Dr Tan Cheng Bock: My Challenge Is To Uphold The Constitution, Not Undermine Race And Religion

    My fellow Singaporeans

    The High Court has decided against my application. My lawyers are studying the 65-page judgment in which Justice Quentin Loh acknowledged that I have “put forward serious arguments on the start of the count”.
    I am, of course, disappointed with the result and will announce whether I will appeal, after this weekend.

    Meanwhile, I am more disappointed with a Channel News Asia (CNA) report on 7 July 2017, 2.53 pm. In the paragraph titled “Dr Tan “Selfishly” Trying To “Undermine” Multi Racial Presidency’, the report quoted:
    [“His motives are purely selfish and he has shown no regard for the principle of multiracial representation which Parliament intended to safeguard,” Deputy Attorney-General (DAG) Hri Kumar Nair said.]

    I wish to respond.
    First, the report gave the impression that Justice Loh accepted the DAG’s remarks about me (which was also unfair and untrue). In fact, the judge did not entertain this submission anywhere in his judgment, presumably because that submission was irrelevant to the case.
    Second, in my political life, I championed multi-racialism and continue to do so. I was fortunate enough to take care of a constituency comprising 27% Malay constituents. We served together well and they graciously supported me with record high election percentages including 88% in 2001. I am thankful for the great rapport I had with my Malay constituents and grassroot leaders – some of whom still continue to visit my home during Chinese New Year until this day.

    For the DAG to call me “selfish” and having “no regard for the principle of multiracial representation” is hitting below the belt, highly inflammatory and encroaches into dangerous racial politics. The DAG is a public servant and an ex-PAP MP. He should not have made such a statement, which is now widely reported by the press.

    This case is not about race. It is about process and procedures. It is about upholding the Constitution. Let’s keep it that way.

     

    Source: Dr Tan Cheng Bock