The
latest changes to Primary 1 registration are meant to widen access to some popular schools. But they should also prompt a harder question: What exactly are we trying to preserve when families feel strongly about particular primary schools?
From the 2027 exercise, most primary schools will reserve 60 places for Phase 2C – the open phase for all students, regardless of whether or not they have a prior connection to the school – up from 40 places.
This piece was first published in The Straits Times on 15 September 2026.
Melvin Tay is a research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore.
Mathew Mathews is head of the Social Lab and principal research fellow at the same Institute.
Top Image from Canva.