Earlier Access for Pre-P1 Preparation
In the past, parents of children entering Primary 1 could only access the app from mid-November, when P1 orientation usually takes place. But as parents needed to be informed by October, schools were forced to rely on hardcopy forms, emails and SMS to communicate with parents.
To further support these parents and the schools, the PSD-MOE Parents Service Journey Team reviewed the app to provide the parents with access to it even before the P1 registration exercise commences.
To achieve this, the team did user research, had discussions with stakeholders such as parents, schools and MOE officers, and put the list of features through a prioritisation matrix.
“Each feature was assigned a score – a business value – based on its reach, frequency and value to both parents and teachers,” said Victor Chua, Deputy Director, MOE, who oversees the PG team.
Since October 2020, all pre-P1 parents have received early access to the Parents Gateway app to get a head start in preparing for the start of school. Through the app, parents could learn about virtual orientation dates, and how to purchase school uniforms and book supplies.
In 2021, access was granted even earlier in May. The app also provided more information and resources on the P1 registration process and requirements. This further streamlined the administrative processes for schools and parents, and made the app a convenient way to disseminate timely information.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the PG app was especially useful for parents who could not physically visit the school for administrative matters. The PG app’s feature for mass communication from MOE HQ to parents proved to be a serendipitous enhancement that allowed timely instructions to be shared with parents during the pandemic.