Improving Access to Education and Support for Families with Special Needs
Singapore’s 2024 Budget includes several initiatives aimed at making education more affordable and providing additional support to families, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds and those with special needs.
To address the rising costs of early childhood education, the government will reduce full-day monthly childcare fee caps for government-supported pre-schools in 2025. For anchor operators, the fee cap will drop by S$40, bringing the cost down to S$640, while for partner operators, the fee cap will be reduced to S$680. These figures are before applying childcare subsidies, which will further ease the financial burden on families. Additional fee reductions are planned for 2026, with details to be announced in the future.
Alongside this, the government will enhance pre-school subsidies for lower-income families. Previously, higher subsidies were only available to children of working mothers, but this will now extend to all children from lower-income families, including those whose mothers do not work. This move ensures that more families can afford early education for their children.
The government is also introducing the ComLink+ progress packages for eligible lower-income families with young children. This program will provide various forms of support aimed at improving pre-school education, financial stability, employment, and saving for homeownership. For example, families whose children are enrolled in pre-school by the age of three will receive a one-time top-up of S$500 to the child’s Child Development Account (CDA). Additionally, families that ensure consistent attendance in pre-school from ages three to six will receive S$200 for each quarter of good attendance.
In terms of employment, families who secure and maintain a job with a gross monthly salary above S$1,400 will receive a combination of cash and CPF payouts, ranging from S$450 to S$550 for every three consecutive months of employment. These efforts are aimed at promoting social mobility and supporting families on their journey to financial independence. The total payout for the employment and savings packages is capped at S$30,000.
For families with children in special education (SPED) schools, the government is reducing the maximum monthly fee from S$150 to S$90. Additionally, the fee caps at special student care centres will also be lowered to ease the financial strain on these families.
The government is also expanding support for adults with disabilities, providing more opportunities for training in sheltered workshops and day activity centres. Furthermore, more Enabling Services Hubs will be launched to offer community support for disabled individuals.
These measures reflect Singapore’s continued commitment to providing affordable education and enhancing support systems for vulnerable populations, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of income or circumstances, have the opportunity to thrive.
