MOE extends eligibility to benefit 1,500 additional graduates
Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced an expansion of the ITE Progression Award (IPA), allowing certain Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates above 30 to qualify for financial support in their diploma studies. This one-time extension is expected to benefit around 1,500 individuals.
Under the original IPA scheme, ITE graduates aged 30 and below receive S$5,000 in their Post-Secondary Education Account upon enrolling in a diploma program, followed by S$10,000 in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) Ordinary Account (OA) upon completion. The expanded eligibility covers two additional groups:
Current diploma students: Singaporean ITE graduates already enrolled in a diploma course at an MOE-funded institution, regardless of age, will receive the S$10,000 CPF OA top-up upon graduation.
New enrollees aged 31 in 2024: Singaporean ITE graduates aged 31 who enroll in an MOE-funded diploma program this year will receive both the S$5,000 education top-up and the S$10,000 CPF OA contribution.
However, students enrolled in a work-study diploma will only receive the CPF OA top-up.
MOE projects that the IPA will cost approximately S$105 million annually, with potential increases if enrollment rises. With over 7,000 eligible ITE graduates enrolling in diploma courses each year, the initiative aims to enhance career prospects through upskilling, boosting earning potential and long-term financial stability.
