Along with the changes to the Primary One Registration Exercise, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will also be updated the methodology for calculating Home-School Distance (HSD).
In a press release by MOE previously on Thursday (9 September), the ministry announced changes to the P1 Registration process to ensure mainstream schools remain open to all children.
The changes include additional reserved places for Phase 2C, combining Phases 2A1 and 2A2 and the updated methodology for the primary school distance calculator.
The Current Method For Computing Home-School Distance
According to the ministry, Home-School Distance is currently calculated from a single reference point based on the school's original building layout to the registrant's home.
This is true even if the current school building layout changes significantly due to upgrading or re-building.
The methodology of calculating the distance between one's home to a school was created to help children and their parents find a primary school near them.
Updates On The Methodology Of Home To Primary School Distance Calculator
Starting from the 2022 P1 Registration Exercise, Home-School Distance will be calculated based on the School Land Boundary. This means, distance will be computed from any point on the boundary around the school to the registrant's home.
MOE says it is less likely for the School Land Boundary to change over time. It will also be a more stable basis to compute Home-School Distance.
"Using the School Land Boundary to compute Home-School Distance would result in a slightly larger coverage of residential addresses within 1km and 2km for all our primary schools, compared to the current methodology using a single reference point," explains the ministry.
Meanwhile, three primary schools including Cedar Primary School, Maris Stella High School (primary section) and Marymount Convent school will have a small number of registrants who will be shifted to a further Home-School Distance category.
MOE says this because the original reference points for these three schools is outside the School Land Boundary. This is due to significant past upgrading or re-building work as well as school boundary changes.
That is why for next year's P1 Registration Exercise, this small affected group will be allowed to retain their original Home-School Distance "as a once-off transitional arrangement."
You can refer to OneMap for the updated maps that show the buildings within 1km and 2km of all primary schools based on the revised methodology.
"The majority of registrants applying to our primary schools will not be affected under the updated methodology (i.e. their Home-School Distance categories remain the same with respect to a particular school), while some registrants will be in a nearer Home-School Distance category," adds MOE.
As for the list of schools that will benefit from the changes in Phase 2c, here's a look at their names.
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