Guides & References
Education & Care Schemes
Infant Care / Child Care
What is it:
The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) provides 2 types of subsidies to help parents lessen the cost of infant care (for children aged 2 to 18 months) and child care (for children aged above 18 months to below 7 years old) services.
The 2 subsidies are Basic Subsidy and Additional Subsidy. Click here for more information.
For more information (e.g. amount of subsidies, eligibility, determination of household income, application procedure, etc.), refer to this link and also FAQ for Centre-based Infant and Child Care Subsidies.
To search preschools , click here (Preschool search portal).
Find out how much subsidy you’re eligible for here.
Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA)
Website: https://www.ecda.gov.sg
Address: 51 Cuppage Road, #08-01, Singapore (229469)
Tel: 6735 9213https://www.ecda.gov.sg/pages/default.aspx
ComCare Child Care Subsidies
What is it:
ComCare Child Care Subsidy is a further child care financial assistance given to low income families with extenuating circumstances.
Applications can be made through the child care centre if the families are unable to afford childcare fees even after the Basic and Additional Subsidies. They can also apply for a one-time grant to cover the initial start-up costs of enrolling a child in the centre.
For more information, please approach the child care centre your child is enrolled in.
Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS)
Given Basic and Additional Subsidies are only applicable for children enrolled in ECDA-licensed child care centres, you may be wondering if there are any equivalent subsidy enhancements for kindergartens.
What is it:
The Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) helps parents defray their children’s kindergarten fees and is administered by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). From January 2020, KiFAS will be extended to families with Singapore citizen children attending kindergarten programmes run by Anchor Operators or the Ministry of Education, if their gross monthly household income is $12,000 and below. Eligible low-income families may also apply for a yearly grant to cover the start-up costs of enrolling their children in the kindergarten.
More information can be found on the https://supportgowhere.life.gov.sg
Eligible families may apply for KiFAS through the kindergarten.
Start Up Grant (SUG)
What is it:
For additional financial assistance, parents whose Singapore Citizen child is enrolled in an AOP or MOE kindergarten may apply for Start Up Grant (SUG) which can be used to pay for items such as the deposit, registration fee, uniforms and insurance fee.
Application should be made through your child’s kindergarten.
ComCare Student Care Financial Assistance (SCFA)
What is it:
The ComCare Student Care Financial Assistance (SCFA) provides subsidies for parents with children enrolled in student care services. As with most subsidies, families from lower income tiers will receive higher subsidy amounts.
Find out how much subsidy you’re eligible for here.
If you need more subsidy, request for the student care operator to make an appeal to a social worker from any Family Service to obtain a Letter of Recommendation.
ComCare and Social Support Division (MSF)
Website: www.msf.gov.sg/ComCare
Tel: 1800 222 0000 (Mondays to Sundays, 7am – 12 midnight)
Address: 512 Thomson Road, #15-00 MSF Building, Singapore 298136
Financial assistance for education
Singapore Citizens in financial need can get assistance on school fees and other expenses. This applies to government, government-aided, specialised and some independent schools.
MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (MOE FAS)
Awards and scholarships
Click here to learn about the different merit-based awards and scholarships available.