Why Nan Chiau, Princess Elizabeth, Nan Hua, and Chongfu Are Singapore’s Most Sought-After Primary Schools

Every year in Singapore, parents face one of the biggest decisions for their child—choosing the right primary school.

Some schools are so popular that many more kids apply than there are places available.

This year, schools like Angsana Primary, Nan Chiau Primary, Princess Elizabeth Primary, Nan Hua Primary, and Chongfu School are the talk of the town.

But what makes these schools so popular? 

I really wonder, so I go and take a look.

East Side, Best Side: Rise of Angsana Primary in Tampines

Let us start with Angsana Primary, a school that has an interesting story behind its sudden popularity.

Angsana Primary was not always the name everyone talked about.

It started as a merged school, bringing together Griffiths Primary and Qiao Nan Primary, probably because of declining enrollment numbers.

For a while, it was just another neighborhood school, doing its best to provide a good education.

But things changed when Angsana Primary moved from Tampines Avenue 2 to Tampines North.

The shift to this new, vibrant area brought new life to the school.

In 2022, we start to see Angsana filled at 2CS and even need to ballot.

Even at phase 2C is a huge number of applicants at 171!

Suddenly, this year 2024 during Phase 2A and 2C, it was all about balloting.

Phase 2A is the MOE K. MOE K still need to ballot. Really jialats!

And sadly, only 1 volunteer for phase 2B. But well, the volunteer effort sure paid off.

Can you imagine?

A school that once had fewer students now has more applicants than places available.

It is amazing how a change in location can make such a big difference.

Convenient Locations in Growing Neighborhoods

Angsana Primary’s story is similar to other popular schools in Singapore.

Imagine you live in Tampines, Sengkang, Bukit Batok, Clementi, or Yishun—areas with lots of new housing and young families.

Angsana Primary in Tampines North, Nan Chiau Primary in Sengkang, Princess Elizabeth Primary in Bukit Batok, Nan Hua Primary in Clementi, and Chongfu School in Yishun are all situated in the heart of these neighborhoods.

For many families, these schools are the most convenient options nearby.

With so many new flats being built in these areas, more families are moving in and looking for good schools.

It is no surprise that these schools are at the top of many parents’ lists.

A Look at Sengkang: The Battle for School Spots

Now, let us take a closer look at Sengkang, an area where the competition for primary school spots is fierce. 

Sengkang is home to 12 primary schools. Punggol and Tampines only have 11 primary schools. 

This year, four of these schools were completely filled during Phase 2C.

Leaving with Ferngreen with 1 slot, Springdale with 4 slots.

This leaves 6 schools to take in the remaining students who did not get their first choice.

In total, there were 1,075 applicants in Phase 2C across Sengkang.

The four schools that required balloting have created a spillover of 286 applicants who now need to find places in other schools.

Thankfully, there are still 504 vacancies available in the remaining eight schools.

Not to mention there are other applicants near to Palm View Primary and North Vista Primary.

Given the proximity of these schools, it is likely that Anchor Green Primary, which is near Nan Chiau Primary, will absorb a significant portion of the spillover.

Hopefully, about two-thirds of the 159 applicants from Nan Chiau can find a place at Anchor Green.

Princess Elizabeth Primary: A School in the Heart of New BTO Projects

A question that every parent is wondering: Why is princess elizabeth primary school so popular?

Princess Elizabeth Primary stands out because of its prime location among several new Build-To-Order (BTO) projects in Bukit Batok.

Princess Elizabeth statistics is really crazy! 41 vacancy and 270 applicants!

658%!

Confirm the record holder!

As these new flats fill up with young families, the demand for quality primary education in the area has increased.

Princess Elizabeth is perfectly positioned to meet this demand.

Look at the surrounding, easily more than 8-9 new BTO projects.

The nearest primary school is at Jurong (Yuhua Primary).

Bukit View is located more than 1km away.

It is a top choice for parents living nearby. Or probably it is the only choice nearby.

So given these statistics, why Bukit Batok this area only 1 primary school?

Who's the MP ah ? Ahem.

It is crazy that the houses are built and yet the amenities cannot keep up with it.

And parents gotta  stressed over this and make arrangements for a school further away.

Commitment to Culture and Heritage

But it is not just about being close by.

Schools like Nan Chiau and Chongfu have strong connections to Chinese culture and heritage.

They are closely linked to the Hokkien Huay Kuan, a well-known Chinese clan association in Singapore.

For those that want to get in the Hokkien Schools:

• Ai Tong (20 Vacancy | 53 Applied)
• Chong Fu (21 Vacancy | 53 Applied)
• Kong Hwa School (36 Vacancy | 71 Applied)
• Nan Chiau (88 Vacancy | 247 Applied)
• Tao Nan (31 Vacancy | 62 Applied)

You can join the association as Parent Volunteer, I think 80 hours for the 2 years volunteer then eligible for phase 2B. And of the 5 schools. 

But look at the applicants, 2x to 3x even you volunteer. Sometimes makes you think if volunteering really worth the gamble.

PS: You must be a Hokkien descendant to qualify for the Hokkien Association. That is to say, your Birth Cert should state your dialect as Hokkien.

Gifted Education Programme (GEP) centers

Nan Hua Primary, on the other hand, is a government-aided school that has a rich history dating back to 1917.

As a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school, it places a strong emphasis on bilingual education, where students learn both English and Chinese as first languages.

Nan Hua also stands out as one of the nine Gifted Education Programme (GEP) centers in Singapore.

The focus on bilingual education and cultural programs makes them stand out.

Parents know that their children will get a good education while also learning about their roots.

This mix of strong academics and cultural learning is what makes these schools so attractive.

Tough Balloting Process

With all these good things, it is no surprise that many parents want to send their kids to these schools.

But because these schools are so popular, there are often more applicants than places available.

This means some families will be disappointed when they do not get a spot.

When this happens, it can be hard for parents to accept.

But in Singapore, I think Mr East Coast Heng say, “Every school is a good school.”

Even if your child does not get into one of these popular schools, they will still get a good education somewhere else.

Singapore’s schools all provide strong learning experiences, and every school has something special to offer.

It’s Also About FOMO

But let us be honest.

It is also a bit of FOMO—fear of missing out.

You know how it is.

You see a long queue at the hawker center, and you find yourself joining it too, even if you do not know what the food is.

The same thing happens with schools.

When you see other parents rushing to get a spot in these schools, you feel like you should be doing the same.

After all, if everyone else is queuing up, there must be something special, right?

In the end, choosing a school can feel a lot like standing in that queue.

You want the best for your child, and sometimes that means following the crowd to where you believe the best is.

What Matters Most

At the end of the day, what really matters is that parents continue to support and encourage their children, no matter which school they go to.

Singapore’s education system is designed to ensure that every child receives a quality education, no matter which school they attend.