SINGAPORE — For the third consecutive year, school fee increases have been announced for foreigners and Permanent Residents, which will kick in from January next year.
And in a departure from the past, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced three years’ of increase.
The ministry said on Tuesday (Oct 17) the increases will range from S$25 to S$150 per month for foreigners, and S$25 to S$60 per month for PRs, depending on the school level. The change applies to those studying in government schools and government-aided schools.
For instance, monthly fees for a permanent resident attending a primary school here will go up from S$130 now, to S$155 next year, to S$180 in 2019, and S$205 in 2020.
For an international student in the same school, monthly fees will increase by S$50 each year, from S$600 now, to S$750 in 2020.
(Click to enlarge) A breakdown of the revised school fees for non-citizens in government and government-aided schools from 2018 to 2020. Chart: MOE
In a press release, the MOE said the revision is part of its regular review of school fees.
“The release of the fee schedule for the next three years is to provide greater certainty on the fees for non-citizens for the next few years, and to enable parents to plan for the financing of their children’s studies in MOE schools,” it added.
In announcing the increase in school fees for foreigners and PRs attending MOE schools here in October last year, the ministry said the move is a continued effort to “differentiate fees by citizenship”.
On Tuesday, it said there are currently no plans to adjust school fees for Singapore citizens. Singaporeans pay no school fees in primary school, but pay S$5 and S$6 monthly in secondary school and pre-university, respectively.
Earlier this month, Parliamentary Secretary for Education Low Yen Ling told Parliament that about 1,800 applications from international students to enter Primary 1 this year were rejected in the 2016 Primary 1 registration exercise.
TODAY had also reported that figures from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) show that as of end-August, there were about 76,000 international students on Student’s Pass who are enrolled in private and government-run schools and institutions, including the polytechnics and universities in Singapore. In 2008, the number stood at close to 100,000, previous reports stated. The ICA issues the Student’s Pass for foreigners applying to study here.
Asked previously whether the ministry had turned away more applicants in the last few years and about the intake of foreign students, MOE would only say that international students form about 5 per cent of the total student population in the last few years.
