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Practice Library

Help With Costs: The Main Schemes

Schemes that lower school, care, tuition and sport costs for a child aged 9 to 12, mostly for Singapore Citizens and permanent residents. Check each page.

Prepared by The Editorial Team

Updated 29 September 2026

Details checked September 2026. Schemes and limits change, so confirm on the official page.

Each entry sets out what the scheme’s own page says, under labels such as who it is for, what it covers, limits and how to apply.

Income limits below are the ones on each scheme’s own page when this page was checked. They change, so confirm on the official page before relying on them.

Most schemes below name Singapore Citizens, or citizens and permanent residents. Families on other passes should read each page, since some list separate arrangements.

This is an overview only — each scheme’s own section below has the actual limits and conditions.

Scheme Means-tested Who it names What it covers
Edusave No Every Singapore Citizen In MOE-funded schools: miscellaneous fees, autonomous school fees, enrichment programmes organised by the school, among other uses
ActiveSG credits No Singapore citizens and permanent residents (new-member and SG60 grants); children aged 4 to 12 (2023 grant) Programme offsets, facility bookings, gym or pool passes
Libraries No Singaporeans free; permanent residents pay a one-time registration fee Basic membership; programmes for children and teens
MOE Financial Assistance Scheme Income-tested Singapore Citizens in financial need, at government and government-aided schools, and specialised schools At primary level: miscellaneous fees, free textbooks and school attire, meal and transport subsidies
Student Care Fee Assistance Income-tested Children aged 7 to 14; a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident with a Singapore Citizen family member in the household; a working-hours condition for parents Fee help at student care centres registered with MSF
SportCares Bursary Linked to assistance you already receive Singapore Citizens and permanent residents aged 3 to 18, already receiving listed financial assistance Seasonal participation fees for nine ActiveSG Academies & Clubs
CDAC Tuition Programme Free within its income limits A self-help group for the Chinese community; the student or a parent a Singapore Citizen or permanent resident; government or government-aided mainstream schools Tuition
SINDA STEP Fee waived within an income limit Focused on the Singaporean Indian community; fee terms for Singapore Citizens and permanent residents Tuition or academic support for primary pupils
MENDAKI Achievement Programme No income test stated Support for Malay/Muslim students Tuition or academic support for primary pupils

Not means-tested

Edusave

  • Who it’s for: Every Singapore Citizen has an Edusave account.
  • What it covers: Primary school students receive $230 this year (2026). In MOE-funded schools, MOE’s usage page lists miscellaneous fees, autonomous school fees and enrichment programmes organised by the school, among other uses.

ActiveSG credits

  • If you already have credits: In October 2025, Sport Singapore said existing credits are extended to 31 December 2026. After that, unused credits roll over to the following year if at least one transaction is made in 2026.
  • What they pay for: As of October 2025 the credits offset 30% of most ActiveSG programmes, 60% of school-holiday programmes and 100% of Active Health programmes. They can also pay for facility bookings and gym or pool passes. Since November 2025, they can pay for bookings at more than 370 school sports facilities.
  • How credits were given: There have been three separate $100 grants of ActiveSG credits. Since 2014, new members have been given $100, which ActiveSG describes as a one-time top-up for new, eligible members who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents. In 2023, children aged 4 to 12 were given $100 more. An SG60 top-up of $100 went to Singapore citizens and permanent residents who logged in to MyActiveSG+ between 2 June and 31 December 2025. It closed on 31 December 2025.

Libraries

  • Who it’s for: Basic NLB membership is free for Singaporeans. Permanent residents pay a one-time registration fee, waived for permanent residents who are MOE students below 21.
  • Programmes: NLB’s programmes for children and teens are on its DiscoveReads hub. Check each listing for any fee.

Income-tested, or linked to assistance you already receive

MOE Financial Assistance Scheme

  • Who it’s for: Singapore Citizens in financial need, at government and government-aided schools, and specialised schools.
  • Limits: From January 2026, a monthly gross household income up to $4,000 or a monthly per-capita income up to $1,000.
  • What it covers: At primary level, miscellaneous fees in full, and free textbooks and school attire, meal subsidies and transport subsidies.
  • How to apply: Apply online, or submit the paper form to the school.
  • Other school types: MOE’s financial assistance page says the financial scheme your child can apply for depends on the type of school or institution they are studying in.

Student Care Fee Assistance

  • Who it’s for: Children aged 7 to 14 at student care centres registered with MSF to administer it. The child must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident with at least one immediate family member in the same household who is a Singapore Citizen. The page sets a working-hours condition for parents; check it on the page.
  • Limits: A gross monthly household income of up to $4,500 for families of four or fewer, or a per-capita income of up to $1,125 for families of five or more. From January 2027 the limits rise to $6,500 and $1,625.
  • What it covers: Fee help at the student care centre. The subsidy depends on household income and the centre’s fees. MSF publishes the table on the scheme’s page.
  • How to apply: Apply online through SupportGoWhere.

SportCares Bursary

  • Who it’s for: Singapore Citizens and permanent residents aged 3 to 18. The child or the applicant must already receive financial assistance from a government or non-profit organisation, under one of the schemes the page lists.
  • What it covers: Seasonal participation fees for nine ActiveSG Academies & Clubs, which the page lists as athletics, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, volleyball, water polo, canoe and table tennis.
  • How to apply: Join the mailing list on the page. Sport Singapore emails it when the next application window opens.

Community self-help groups

CDAC describes itself as a self-help group for the Chinese community, and SINDA as focused on the Singaporean Indian community. MENDAKI describes its programme as support for Malay/Muslim students. Each runs tuition or academic support for primary pupils.

CDAC Tuition Programme

  • Who it’s for: Students at government or government-aided mainstream schools, where the student or a parent is a Singapore Citizen or permanent resident.
  • Limits: Tuition is free when gross monthly household income is up to $4,800 or per-capita income is up to $1,400.
  • Application window: Applications for 2026 closed on 6 July.

SINDA STEP

  • Limits: A $10 flat fee at primary level, for Singapore Citizens and permanent residents, waived at per-capita income up to $1,600.
  • Application window: Registration closes on 17 October 2026.

MENDAKI Achievement Programme

  • Formerly the MENDAKI Tuition Programme.
  • Fee: The $10 registration fee has been removed.

Check eligibility with each group directly.

Before you apply

Confirm each scheme on its official page. Limits and application windows change during the year.

Not covered here

Community club course fees and any member rates, and the Eurasian Association’s programmes, are not covered here. Check them on their own sites.

Sources