False Information Provided to Secure Primary School Places
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the prevalence of parents providing false information for primary school registration and the subsequent actions taken by authorities to address such cases. Mr Darryl David inquired about enforcement and child welfare, to which Minister Ng Chee Meng replied that fewer than ten cases were reported over the past decade. The Minister stated that cases are referred to the Police and, upon conviction, the child is transferred to another school with available vacancies. Minister Ng Chee Meng further explained that the Ministry provides necessary emotional and educational support to help affected children adjust to their new environments. This policy ensures that registration integrity is upheld while prioritizing the child's well-being through counselling and follow-up care.
Transcript
1 Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Education (Schools) (a) in the past five years, how many parents have provided false information to secure a place for their child in a school; (b) how are such cases handled by the authorities; and (c) whether the child in question is allowed to remain in the school that he or she has been enrolled in when the parents have been found guilty of providing false information.
The Minister for Education (Schools) (Mr Ng Chee Meng): Mr Speaker, MOE takes a serious view towards parents who intentionally falsify any information for the purpose of Primary 1 (P1) registration. In the last 10 years, there were less than 10 such reported cases.
Where there is reason to believe that false information may have been used, MOE will refer the case to the Police for their investigation and action. In cases where the verdict is finalised and the parent is convicted of the charge, the child who was previously registered in a school based on false information would be transferred to another school with available vacancies.
Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio): I thank the Minister for the answer. I have a couple of supplementary questions. First, in such cases, does the Ministry or the school provide counselling services for the child that is affected by this rather unfortunate turn of circumstances? Does the Ministry then follow up to see whether the child is adjusting well in the new school? My concern, of course, is coming from the perspective of the welfare of the child.
Mr Ng Chee Meng: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the clarification. Yes, if needed, we will extend the necessary support both educationally and emotionally to the child affected. After all, he or she is still the centre of the purpose of education.