Maha Bodhi School
A parent's fact-file: P1 competitiveness, programmes, and what to expect.
Maha Bodhi School is a government-aided SAP primary school in Ubi with roots as a Buddhist mission school opened in 1948. It pairs strong bilingual learning with character values drawn from its Buddhist heritage.
MOE data last updated: 21 August 2026, 4:29pm SGT
Ballot history
Maha Bodhi School has required balloting in several recent registration exercises. Admission risk depends on phase, citizenship and home-to-school distance.
- Phase 2C has gone to a ballot in 7 of the last 7 completed years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019).
- 2026 so far: 123 admitted in Phase 1 (of 300 total places) · Phase 2A had 117 applicants for 117 places (no ballot needed).
- Phase 2C(S) has closed; results can be checked in the P1 Registration Portal from 8am on 27 August 2026.
Student Care
Maha Bodhi School has a school-based Student Care Centre operated by Nascans.
- Monthly fee $245 · registered to administer the SCFA subsidy.
- A place at Maha Bodhi does not guarantee a student-care place. Apply to the centre directly.
School info
Maha Bodhi School (MBS) at a glance
- Type
- Government-aided, co-educational
- Area
- Geylang
- Region
- East
- Mother tongue languages
- Chinese
- Getting there
- Buses: 5, 8, 15, 22, 25, 45, 51, 55, 59, 61, 63, 63M, 65, 66, 93, 94, 137, 854
- Principal
- Madam Teng Lai Kwan
- Contact
- 6744 2115 · [email protected]
Details from MOE’s School Directory and Information, checked July 2026. Confirm current details with the school.
School connections
How this school links to the wider system, secondary and preschool, each of which can shape the P1 and later journey.
Maha Bodhi School is affiliated to Manjusri Secondary School. An affiliation can give a priority route and a more favourable cut-off into the affiliated secondary at Secondary 1 posting. Places are limited, so confirm the current terms with the school.
Always confirm the latest with the school before relying on it.
Settling in
The practical things once a place is confirmed: orientation, getting to school, and care after school. These vary by school, so confirm the specifics with Maha Bodhi School.
For the January 2026 intake: '2026 P1 Orientation' event page (held 2025, photo gallery only, no date/time); nothing for 2027 intake. The January 2027 date is not out yet. Watch the school's website around October to November. Source: the school's website.
Most primary schools appoint a school bus operator, but routes and fees vary by school and can change each year. Confirm the route, timing and fee directly with the school. Up to 2KM: $215 a month return. Visit the school website. See every fare band for this school.
Maha Bodhi School has a School-Based Student Care Centre operated by Nascans. Monthly fee $245. Registered to administer the SCFA subsidy. Source: the school's website. Read our student care guide.
Details vary by school and year. Always confirm with the school before you rely on them.
Programmes and open house
Maha Bodhi School's CCAs, its two MOE programmes, and its open house date.
Maha Bodhi School lists 22 CCAs with MOE, including Badminton, Scouts, Band and Art Club. Not every CCA on the list runs every year, and some have limited places, so confirm with the school before counting on one.
Its Applied Learning Programme is Empathetic Listeners. Effective Communicators. Trailblazing Advocates (ELECTRA@MBS) (Languages). Its Learning for Life Programme is Learning through an Ethnic Arts Programme (LEAP) (Music & Performing Arts).
See the full CCA list and both programmes →
Source: MOE's school CCA data. Confirm current details with the school.
Maha Bodhi School has not published an open house date for 2024, 2025 or 2026 in MOE Schoolbag's roundup.
See open house dates for every school →
Source: MOE Schoolbag's open house roundup.
Stage 1 · before you register
Is this school right for us?
Affiliated secondary
Manjusri Secondary School
High-ability
Not a GEP centre
What Maha Bodhi is known for
Special Assistance Plan (SAP) status. As one of Singapore's SAP schools, Maha Bodhi offers strong English and Chinese instruction, with a Bilingual Competence Programme (BiCEP) to deepen proficiency in both languages.
Buddhist heritage and values. The school traces back to a Buddhist mission school opened in 1948, and its character education draws on Buddhist principles of compassion and mindfulness.
Music, performing arts and communication. Its Learning for Life Programme centres on ethnic arts (LEAP), while the Applied Learning Programme (ELECTRA@MBS) builds pupils' communication skills.
Not a high-ability (GEP) centre. Maha Bodhi does not host the Gifted Education Programme, so families drawn here tend to value its SAP and bilingual focus rather than GEP screening.
Is it a fit for your family? What to weigh
Stage 3 · after you're in
We're in. What happens now?
Visiting
Maha Bodhi School is not listed among the schools running a public open house in recent MOE roundups for prospective P1 families, so contact the school directly to ask about admissions briefings or a visit.
Getting ready for the first day? Maha Bodhi School publishes a P1 Orientation Guide for new families, with the practical details, uniforms, book lists, dismissal and what to bring. Schools refresh these each year, so confirm the dates against the latest version.
Common questions
Is Maha Bodhi School a SAP school? +
Yes. Maha Bodhi School is one of Singapore's Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools, offering strong bilingual education in English and Chinese alongside an appreciation of Chinese culture and values.
Is Maha Bodhi School affiliated to a secondary school? +
Yes. It is affiliated to Manjusri Secondary School, which can give eligible pupils priority when applying there during secondary school posting.
Did Maha Bodhi School ballot in 2025? +
Yes. At the 2025 Primary 1 registration exercise, both Phase 2B and Phase 2C went to balloting. Phase 2C drew 125 applicants for 49 vacancies.
All primary schools in Geylang
Places taken by phase, with applicants / vacancies beneath. Ranked by how competitive the open phases were in 2025 (2C first). This school is highlighted; search to pin schools and compare them. Tap any school for its full ballot history, or see every year for Geylang schools.
Tip: pin a school, then add another to compare.
| School | Phase 1↕ | 2A↕ | 2A(2)↕ | 2B↕ | 2C↕ | 2C(S)↕ | 3↕ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maha Bodhi | 123123/24051% | 117117/117100% | – | 2132/21SC 1-2152% | 4377/43SC<1179% | full0 places | – | 300of 300(-30)100% |
| Kong Hwa | 109109/22050% | 9191/11182% | – | 2757/27SC<1211% | 56117/56SC<1209% | full0 places | – | 280of 280(+10)100% |
| Geylang Methodist (Primary) | 7979/21038% | 3535/13127% | – | 77/5213% | 149151/149PR>2101% | full0 places | – | 270of 270100% |
| Haig Girls' | 4040/13031% | 1515/9017% | – | 1111/4524% | 106106/12485% | pending38/18SC 1-2211% | – | 172of 19091% |
| Canossa Catholic | 6060/60100% | 00/0 | – | 2021/20105% | 4250/42all SC<2 placed119% | full0 places | – | 120of 120100% |
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