Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Singapore, the education system is highly centralised. The Ministry of Education oversees the development and administration of all public education institutions and directly allocates funding to schools based on pupil enrolment. This funding supports both state-run schools and government-aided private schools.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
In Singapore, the education system is highly centralised. The Ministry of Education oversees the development and administration of all public education institutions and directly allocates funding to schools based on pupil enrolment. This funding supports both state-run schools and government-aided private schools.
2. Education resources to schools
Under the Compulsory Education Act, primary school is compulsory, most citizens attend national secondary schools. The central funding ensures all schools are resourced equitably, with minimal out-of-pocket fees payable by students.
In allocating resources to schools, the Ministry of Education adopts a needs-based approach, with higher per capita resources allocated to schools with more students who require more assistance.
Opportunity Fund Grants
Since 2006, all government and government-aided schools have received Opportunity Fund grants to enhance co-curricular development opportunities for students from low-income households who are Singaporean citizens. Opportunity Grant funds can also be used to help students from low-income families purchase personalized digital learning devices such as laptops and tablets.
School-Based Financial Assistance Scheme
The MOE also provides schools with additional funding under the school-based FAS to help Singapore Citizen students who need further assistance beyond MOE FAS, or to students who may have missed the income qualifying criteria for MOE FAS but need financial help.
Special education schools receive an annual lump sum under the Achievement Award for Special Education Students (AASPEDS). This award aimed to recognize students in government-supported special education schools and motiveate them to excel. Schools receive SGD 100 per Singaporean student. The funding enables schools to disburse the AASPEDS each year to Singapore Citizen students who meet the school-based criteria.
Edusave Pupils Fund
The Edusave Pupils Fund, established in January 1993, provides grants to all government and government-aided schools. These grants, available for Singaporean students, can be used to purchase resources and equipment or to subsidise enrichment programmes that enhance teaching and learning. As of 2023, the grants are no longer funded from the Edusave Endowment Fund as a separate allocation to schools.
3. Education resources to students and families
Beyond general education subsidies to all Singaporean students, the Ministry of Education (MOE) also provides the following targeted assistance (applicable only to Singapore Citizens).
Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) and Special Education FAS
The Ministry of Education (MOE) provides financial assistance to students from low-income families in the form of subsidies under the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS). As of Jan 2026, to be eligible, households must have a monthly gross household income (GHI) of SGD 4,000 or less, or a monthly per capita income (PCI) of SGD 1,000 or less. At the primary and secondary levels, subsidies cover school fees, textbooks, school attire, school meals, and transportation. Pre-university students receive subsidies for school fees and transportation, along with an annual bursary of SGD 1,600. The Special Education Financial Assistance Scheme (SPED FAS) has the same income eligibility criteria and covers the same expenses, with additional support for a new computer or an advanced transport costs for special education students.
MOE Independent School Bursary (ISB)
The MOE Independent School Bursary (ISB) provides subsidies to secondary and pre-university students pursuing education in Independent Schools and Specialized Independent Schools. As of Jan 2026, households with a GHI of SGD 4,000 or less, or a PCI of SGD 1,000 or less, receive full coverage, matching all subsidies provided under the FAS. Families with a GHI of up to SGD 12,000 or a PCI of up to SGD 3,000 may be eligible for partial subsidies.
Edusave and Post-Secondary Education Accounts
Since 1993, every Singapore citizen has had an Edusave account created automatically. All students, whether attending public or private schools, receive annual contributions from the start of primary school until the completion of secondary education. Currently, primary students receive SGD 230 per year, while secondary students receive SGD 290 per year. Each account balance earns interest at 2.5%. Funds can only be used for educational purposes, including school fees, learning devices, or enrichment programmes organised by the school. Additional contributions are provided to top-performing students from modest-income households. The Edusave Scholarship awards SGD 350–500 to students with top academic performance and good conduct. The Edusave Merit Bursary (EMB) awards SGD 200–400 to students demonstrating outstanding academic performance whose monthly GHI does not exceed SGD 9,000 (or a PSI of less than SGD 2,250). The Edusave Good Progress Award (GPA) provides SGD 100–400 to students showing significant academic improvement.
Once students graduate from secondary school, remaining Edusave funds, along with contributions from Child Development Accounts, are transferred to a Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA). Introduced in 2008, the PSEA encourages savings for pre-university and higher education. Both Edusave and PSEA balances are invested and accrue annual interest.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Child Development Account (CDA)
The Child Development Account (CDA), established under the 2001 Child Development Co-Savings Act, is a dedicated savings account provided to all children born as Singaporean citizens. It is part of the Baby Bonus Scheme, provides universal, citizenship-based support to Singaporean children from birth up to age 12. Each eligible child receives a government-funded savings account, with an initial grant and dollar-for-dollar matching of parental contributions up to a cap, to be used for approved child development, education, and healthcare expenses. The scheme is not income tested and applies to citizens only. The Child Development Accounts (CDAs) can receive total government contributions ranging from SGD 13,000 to 35,000.
Student Care Fee Assistance
Student Care Fee Assistance provides monthly fee subsidy of up to SGD 290, and one-time Start-Up Grant of up to SGD 400 per child for a Singaporean child (or PR child with at least one Singapore Citizen household member) from low-income families who is enrolled in a Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)-registered Student Care Center (child care centers for primary and secondary students outside of school hours).
UPLIFT Initiatives
UPLIFT (Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce), established in 2018, is an inter-agency team between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social and Family Development. The Uplift Community Network aims to support and strengthen the partnership between schools and community partners to support disadvantaged students. UPLIFT Enhanced School Resourcing programme provides additional resources to support whole-school approaches and targeted interventions for students with greater needs. UPLIFT Community Network provides coordinated support at the town level, to refer students in need to appropriate agencies.
5. School meal programmes
Singapore does not operate a universal national school meal programme. Instead, targeted meal subsidies are provided to Singaporean students from low-income families through schemes such as the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), the MOE Independent School Bursary (ISB), and the Special Education Financial Assistance Scheme (SPED FAS). Under these programmes, eligible students receive seven meals per week at the primary level and ten meals per week at the secondary level, with funding provided by the Ministry of Education. Meals are purchased from school canteens operated by private vendors, who must comply with health and nutrition guidelines issued by the Health Promotion Board. Nutrition standards are enforced through these vendor guidelines rather than via centralised menus designed by nutritionists, and there is no universal meal provision for all students. Historically, national milk schemes were used to improve child nutrition.
Starting in January 2026, Singapore will implement a school-based free nutritious meal programme in 13 mostly primary schools using a Central Kitchen Meal Model, where a single operator prepares meals on-site for each school. The programme, overseen by the Ministry of Education, ensures meals meet national nutrition guidelines, include balanced portions of carbohydrates, vegetables, protein, and fruit, and remain affordable. It also offers diverse menus with halal and vegetarian options, uses automated distribution systems, and builds on prior pilot testing to improve food quality, variety, and efficiency while reducing queues and promoting healthier eating habits among students.
This profile has been reviewed with support from national experts Prof. Terence Ho, Associate Prof. Fang Zheng, and Prof M. Ramesh.
