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Maha Bodhi School

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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.

Last reviewed against official sources: 5 July 2026

Stage 1 · before you register

Is this school right for us?

Type

Co-educational, government-aided, SAP school

Location

10 Ubi Avenue 1 (Eunos/Geylang East area)

Affiliated secondary

Manjusri Secondary School

High-ability

Not a GEP centre

Official school website

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

Especially if you have no older child here to go on, these are the things worth checking before you put the school down.
Daily travel and distance
At 10 Ubi Avenue 1 (Eunos/Geylang East area). Living within 1km both shortens the daily commute and, if a phase goes to a ballot, puts you in the top priority tier, so check your home-to-school distance on MOE's locator before you commit.
A head start into secondary school
Yes. Maha Bodhi is affiliated to Manjusri Secondary School. That can give a priority route into the affiliated secondary, which for many families is a main reason to choose the school. Confirm the current affiliation terms with the school.
Teaching identity
Co-educational, government-aided, SAP school.
High-ability learners
Not a GEP centre. High-ability children are identified through MOE's separate national screening, which is open to pupils at any school.

Stage 2 · during registration

What are our real chances?

Year PHASE 12A2A(2)2B2C2C(S)3 Total
2026live 124124/240100100/116–--/20--/40–– 124of 300-30
2025 139139/270121121/131–2346/23SC 1-2 (19/3)49125/49SC<1 (98/49)00/000/0 332of 330
2024 129129/2708888/141–3838/387696/76SC 1-2 (24/4)00/000/0 331of 330
2023 141141/2709999/129–3042/30SC>26382/63SC 1-200/000/0 333of 330
2022 132132/2708888/138–3333/3779114/79SC<100/000/0 332of 330
2021 130130/2905555/1605050/1054852/48SC>25071/50SC 1-200/000/0 333of 330
2020 131131/2904949/1594040/1105353/5560105/60SC<100/000/0 333of 330
2019 130130/2905252/1606262/1083131/446064/60SC 1-200/000/0 335of 330
Phases
  • 1 — a sibling already in the school
  • 2A — parent/sibling is an ex-pupil, or parent is staff
  • 2B — volunteer, church/clan, or community leader
  • 2C — open to all, no prior link
  • 2C(S) / 3 — supplementary / non-citizen
Distance groups (ballot priority order)
  • 1. SC<1 — Singapore Citizen within 1km
  • 2. SC 1-2 — within 1 to 2km
  • 3. SC>2 — beyond 2km
  • 4. PR<1 — Permanent Resident within 1km
  • 5. PR 1-2 — within 1 to 2km
  • 6. PR>2 — beyond 2km

Each cell: the big number is places taken; below it, applicants / vacancies. A red cell went to a ballot, with the group and its ratio, e.g. SC 1-2 (6/5).

At the 2025 Primary 1 registration exercise, Maha Bodhi School drew balloting in both Phase 2B and Phase 2C. Phase 2C received 125 applicants for 49 vacancies and went to a ballot, so a place was not guaranteed even for citizens living within 1km. Read our Primary 1 registration guide to see how the phases and distance priority work.

Demand at this level makes home-to-school distance and citizenship the deciding factors in the later phases. Our guide to choosing a primary school can help you weigh Maha Bodhi against other options in the east.

How a P1 place is decided
Places are offered phase by phase, in this order. Only the phases still open when you register apply to you:
Phase 1 — a sibling is already studying in the school
Phase 2A — a parent or sibling is a former pupil, or a parent is staff or a School Advisory/Management Committee member
Phase 2B — a parent is a school volunteer, an active member of a church or clan connected to the school, or a community leader
Phase 2C — open to everyone; the main phase for families with no prior link
Phase 2C Supplementary & Phase 3 — any places still left, and non-citizen applicants
When a phase has more applicants than places, priority (and the ballot, if one is needed) follows this order:
1. Singapore Citizens living within 1km of the school
2. Singapore Citizens living between 1km and 2km
3. Singapore Citizens living beyond 2km
4. Permanent Residents living within 1km
5. Permanent Residents living between 1km and 2km
6. Permanent Residents living beyond 2km
Distance and citizenship are the levers most within your control. Our registration guide walks through every phase and the key dates in full.

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; pick a year, or search to pin schools and compare them. Tap any school for its full ballot history.

Tip: pick a school to pin it, then add another to compare side by side.

School Phase 12A2A(2)2B2C2C(S)3 Total
Maha Bodhi 139139/270121121/131–2346/23SC 1-2 (19/3)49125/49SC<1 (98/49)00/000/0 332of 330
Kong Hwa 114114/2108484/97–2449/24SC<1 (44/24)49118/49SC<1 (112/49)00/000/0 271of 270
Geylang Methodist (Primary) 9797/2103131/113–44/47138138/13800/000/0 270of 270
Haig Girls' 5151/1302323/79–2020/398383/981529/15SC 1-2 (16/9)00/0 192of 190
Canossa Catholic 4141/6066/19–1414/243434/602644/26SC 1-2 (25/15)00/0 121of 120
Full Geylang area page → All schools, live 2026 → 2026 by area →
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