Since education is one of the prioritised basic needs for Singaporean citizens, the government always make sure that each child will receive fair treatment. A comprehensive primary school selection process will be conducted this year by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to assure all children will be given an equal chance for admission under the balloting process. This will be conducted by MOE's computerised system.
What is the primary school selection process this year?
The 2024 P1 Registration Exercise for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents will start from Tuesday, 2 July 2024. It is process to register your child for mainstream primary schools in the following year which is 2025. It has different phases to follow in accordance to your child's eligibility.
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Registration Phases for SCs and PRs
Phase 1
Eligibility: This phase is for children who have siblings currently studying in the primary school.
- Registration: From 9am on Tuesday, 2 July 2024 to 4.30pm on Thursday, 4 July 2024
- Result: Wednesday, 10 July 2024
All eligible Phase 1 applicants will be offered a place in the school.
Phase 2A
Eligibility: This phase caters to children who meet any of the following criteria:
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A parent or sibling is a former student of the primary school (including those who have joined the alumni association).
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A parent is a member of the School Advisory or Management Committee.
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A parent is a staff member of the primary school.
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The child is from the MOE Kindergarten under the purview of and located within the primary school.
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Registration: From 9am on Thursday, 11 July 2024 to 4.30pm on Friday, 12 July 2024
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Result: Friday, 19 July 2024
Phase 2B
Eligibility: This phase is for children whose parents meet one of the following conditions:
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A parent has joined the primary school as a parent volunteer by 1 July of the previous year and has completed at least 40 hours of voluntary service by 30 June of the registration year.
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A parent is a member endorsed by the church or clan directly connected with the primary school.
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A parent is endorsed as an active community leader.
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Registration: From 9am on Monday, 22 July 2024 to 4.30pm on Tuesday, 23 July 2024
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Result: Monday, 29 July 2024
Note: To ensure continued access to all primary schools, 20 places will be reserved in each school for Phase 2B.
Phase 2C
Eligibility: This phase is open to children who have not yet registered in a primary school.
- Registration: From 9am on Tuesday, 30 July 2024 to 4.30pm on Thursday, 1 August 2024
- Result: Tuesday, 13 August 2024
Note: To maintain open access to all primary schools, 40 places will be reserved in each school for Phase 2C. Additionally, there will be a cap on the intake of PR children in some schools to prevent a high concentration of PR children.
Phase 2C Supplementary
Eligibility: This phase is for children who have not yet registered in a primary school after Phase 2C.
- Registration: From 9am on Thursday, 15 August 2024 to 4.30pm on Friday, 16 August 2024
- Result: Tuesday, 27 August 2024
Note: Similar to Phase 2C, there will be a cap on the intake of PR children in some schools to prevent a high concentration of PR children.
While primary school education is compulsory for all Singapore Citizens (SC), the P1 registration process applies to Permanent Residents (PR) and international students. However there are additional considerations: (1) If your child is a Singaporean living overseas, (2) if your child has special educational needs, (3) if your child is assessed to be not ready or unsuitable for P1, and (4) if your child is an international student.
How to check if your child is eligible for P1 registration?
You can register your child in primary school registration if he or she is born between 2 January 2018 and 1 January 2019 (both dates inclusive).
Or simply go to this site to insert your child's birthday: https://www.moe.gov.sg/primary/p1-registration
What if my child failed to pass the selection process?
You can register your child in the next phase they are eligible for. If your child is unsuccessful in Phase 2C Supplementary, they will be posted to a school with available vacancy.
Primary schools to choose before P1 registration:
Choosing a primary school is the first key step before registration. Make sure you have chosen the best and suitable primary school for your child. If you haven't, here are our recommendations to help you decide:
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Primary school
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About them
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Ai Tong School
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Since its establishment in the year 1912 this school has flourished in many areas of academics. They have been introducing new programs, especially in sports and arts. Ai Tong students distinguished themselves in sports, the performing arts, and a variety of other academic and non-academic endeavours.
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CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary Section)
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The CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary) has a character education that is anchored on a 3-E process: Equip, Expose, and Enact. All components of CCE – CCA, NE, VIA and Student Leadership – focus on equipping our pupils with skills and knowledge, exposing them to different experiences.
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Fairfield Methodist School (Primary)
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The Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) has four (4) strategic thrusts such as (1) Achieving Excellence and Engagement in Learning, (2) Building Character and Leadership, (3) Developing Staff Competencies, and (4) Embracing Collaborative Partnerships.
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Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School
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A school that develops a caring bicultural environment for its bilingual students while serving God and their nation. They encourage their students to persevere especially in times of challenges.
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Rulang Primary School
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The school was founded in the year 1930 and has been nurturing students to be trusted countrymen with sincerity. They also made sure that each individual is enforced with strength to face their futures.
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SchoolFinder
SchoolFinder is an essential tool for parents navigating the Primary 1 registration process. It allows you to explore schools based on various criteria such as distance from your home, locations, Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs), subjects, and programmes offered. This comprehensive search tool ensures you can make an informed decision about the best school for your child’s needs and preferences. For detailed school options and to begin your search, visit the SchoolFinder portal.
Is there a priority admission under the primary school selection process?
If your chosen primary school has more registrants than vacancies, priority admission will be given based on your child's citizenship and the Home-School Distance category, which is in turn based on the address used for registration.
Priority admission is given in this order:
- The child must be a Singaporean citizen that is currently living within 1 kilometre of the school.
- Singaporean citizen children who are currently living within 1 kilometre up to 2 kilometres of the school.
- Singaporean citizen children that are currently residing outside the school within 2 kilometres.
- Those who are Permanent Residents that are living within 1 kilometre of the school.
- Permanent residents who are currently residing between 1 kilometre and 2 kilometres of the school.
- Permanent residents living outside the school within 2 kilometres.
How can you prepare your kid for the 1st day in school?
It will be several months before the actual primary school intake. However, preparation is always the key! If you are a first-time mom, here’s a quick guide to prepare your little one for his or her 1st-day fight in school!
- You can visit the school with your child before the 1st day of classes starts so that he/she can familiarise himself/herself with the environment, whether the school is a Catholic school or a Christian School.
- Talk to your kid about socialisation with other people, especially with the teachers, classmates, and other staff he/she may meet in school.
- Be your child’s first teacher, before the school formally starts try to read a book for him/her or even teach him/her how to write.
- Share stories about your first day and how fun it is to build memories in school.
- Complete all the things needed in school including backpacks, notebooks, pens, and many more.
- Always lift your child’s confidence by giving praise with words of encouragement.
Want to know more about the primary school phases and registration dates? Read: What are the Phases for a Primary School (P1) Registration in Singapore 2022?
Done With P1 Registration, What’s Next to Prepare Your Child for P1? Here’s What the Experts Have to Say
Phases for Primary School (P1) Registration in Singapore 2024
7 Best School Bags For Primary School: Our Ergonomic And Value For Money Choices
