Parents Lied to ‘Change Address’ so as to Get Child Into Popular School


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You know what they always say, “If you want something badly, then work for it”.

Well, to a certain extent, this sentence works as an encouragement to those who have the potential to achieve what they want.

But for those that are really desperate, this thought may push them to do something unthinkable, unaccepted and unforgivable.

Just yesterday (Jan 29), the parents of a primary school student were fined for lying about their residential address, according to Channel NewsAsia.

Reason for doing so?

So their kid can get into a popular school.

What they did

In 2014, the parents went to their neighbourhood police post to change their registered address.

The family lives in a bungalow in Serangoon Gardens, but gave a Bishan address instead.

In 2015, the mother registered the child for Primary 1 in a school in Bishan through Phase 2C of the registration exercise.

For those of you who are not familiar with this exercise, those living within 1km of a school are given priority for enrolment.

Hence, it is extremely competitive for those that want their kids to get into a good primary school, since places are not allocated based on academic performance.

The kid got a place and started schooling in 2016. However, within the first month, the vice-principal realised what was happening and made a police report.

An offence

Ministry of Education (MOE) rules are such that a student who gave false information upon registration will be transferred to another school where there are available vacancies.

In this case, the parents have 14 days to decide whether to appeal against their sentence. Hence, the child is still studying in the school.

“We will decide on the best course of action for the child at a later stage. In the meantime, the school will continue to care for and ensure the well-being of the student,” said the Ministry Of Education (MOE).

MOE takes the Primary 1 Registration Exercise as a serious matter, and any cases of false addresses will be referred to the police.


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There have been fewer than 10 reported cases in the last 10 years…

For lying to the vice-principal, a public servant, the mother could have been jailed for up to one year and/or fined up to S$5,000.

The father, who was convicted of one count of giving a false address under the National Registration Act, he could have been jailed for up to five years and/or fined up to S$5,000.

The 36-year-old mother was fined S$5,000 for lying about the family’s address to the vice-principal of the school.

The 38-year-old father was fined S$4,000 for duping an officer at Serangoon Gardens Neighbourhood Police Post into changing the couple’s official addresses on their identity cards.


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What netizens say

As usual, let’s take a look at what our fellow netizen friends have to say:

This one seems pretty triggered:

Image: CNA Facebook Page

This one got a sense of humour:

Image: CNA Facebook Page

And this one wrote a whole essay!

Image: CNA Facebook Page

What’s your take on this?

Personally, I’m kind of like in between.


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Getting your kid into a good primary school would be every parent’s dream. But then again, it has already developed into the stage where people are violating the law.

Let’s hope the government can do something about this before it gets too out of hand…

Since you’re here, why not watch a video about a guy who lodged a Police report here in Singapore because he was friendzoned? Seriously. Here, watch it and do remember to share it (and also subscribe to Goody Feed YouTube channel)!

This article was first published on goodyfeed.com

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Featured image: Wikimedia Commons