August 7, 2019

How Much Does Kindergarten Cost in Singapore?

The high costs, quality and standards of living in Singapore are no secret. Likewise, education in Singapore can come with a considerable price tag too. Preschool education is largely subsidised by the government and the differences in cost are mostly due to the choice in preschool type and if additional enrichment classes are included in the costs. These choices require informed financial decisions and possibly even starting an education fund for your child as soon as he/she is born.

In this article, a variety of information on costs and prices of preschool fees have been collated to give a broad overview and help with planning for your child’s kindergarten education. Kindergarten refers to programmes provided for K1 and K2 children aged 4 to 6 years old or when parents deem their young child ready for kindergarten education.

Government-Operated Kindergartens

There are several early childhood programmes available in Singapore, each with a different range of fees. Government-operated programmes are the most affordable due to the subsidy provided. These are known as Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens.

For the 4 hours half-day programme (2019 and 2020), Singaporean citizens are expected to pay S$160 per month per child, and S$320 for permanent resident children. If you are sending the child for the full day programme, there is a KCare programme operating from 7 AM to 7 PM with costs ranging between S$325 to S$386.

ECDA Anchor Operator Kindergartens

Another type of early childhood education available in Singapore is childcare centres regulated by Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). This government scheme of Anchor Operators (AOPs) provides support to childcare and kindergarten operators to help keep fees affordable and increase access to quality early childhood care and education, especially for those in the lower income group.

Government grants are given to help offset staff wages as the maximum fee collected per child monthly for kindergartens is capped at S$160 (excluding GST). For young parents who are just starting out in their careers and life, you can apply for financial assistance provided by the government through Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS), Kindergarten Care (Kcare Subsidy) and the Start-Up Grant.

Private and International Kindergartens

International kindergarten refers to an early childhood education centre that follows external curriculum and develops its own programme separate from the government’s education approach. They usually have their own holistic educational methods and systems. Some even accept children younger than 4 years old into their kindergarten programs. Thus, the fees are usually higher that government subsidised preschools. Moreover, they operate without subsidy from government.

Be sure to check that their kindergarten programmes are accredited by the government. Monthly kindergarten fees can vary from S$800+ to S$5,000+. This amount does not include registration fees which can go as high as S$4,000.

Average Prices of Kindergarten Fees

Based on the price ranges above, the average kindergarten fees in Singapore is a bit high on the scale. Below is a comparison table of what will cost you on average monthly and annually, based on which preschool programme you choose:

Remember that the cost shown does not include the costs of transportation and transit, and possibly other fees such as registration fees, uniform and material fees. The amounts shown in the table are the prices before GST (Goods and Services Tax) which will add to the final amounts paid in the end.

Knowing this beforehand may help to save parents trouble later. Early planning will help to alleviate the brunt of financial burdens young families may face as they raise children. The cost of kindergartens in Singapore has changed over the years with higher subsidies from the government to better support parents who seek quality education for their children.

Read more about our Kindergarten Curriculum here.