Eligibility Criteria for Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme

Mr Yee Jenn Jong asked the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) if he can provide the list of preschool organisations that are currently eligible for the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) for low-income families; (b) what is the rationale for the kindergarten eligibility criteria for KiFAS; and (c) whether the KiFAS eligibility can be extended to private preschool operators and not-for-profit religious or racial groups.

Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) seeks to ensure that kindergarten education remains affordable and accessible for children from lower and lower-middle income families. Families with a monthly household income of $3,500 and below can apply for KiFAS. Different levels of subsidies, of up to $108 per month, are provided to these families. Depending on the kindergarten fee, families earning $1,500 and below may co-pay as little as $2 per month.

Eligible children can receive KiFAS subsidies at kindergartens that are registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE), are non-profit and secular in nature, and are in a good financial position to provide quality preschool education on a sustainable and affordable basis.

There are presently about 240 kindergartens where families can apply for KiFAS subsidies. These kindergartens provide a range of nursery to kindergarten programmes, and are well distributed across various locations in Singapore. The list of these kindergartens can be found on the MCYS website. Parents can also approach the Community Development Councils and Family Service Centres for assistance on eligible kindergartens.

MCYS regularly reviews this and other funding and support schemes to improve the accessibility and affordability of pre-school education, especially to the lower income groups.