Edusave funds, grants, scholarships & awards – what’s the difference? Our absolute guide to the bewildering acronyms in education schemes.
The Government started the Edusave Scheme in 1993 to maximise opportunities for all Singaporean children. The scheme, which rewards well-performing students and those who make good progress in their academic and non-academic work, provides students and schools with funds to pay for enrichment programmes or to purchase additional resources.
Built up on Government contributions, the Edusave Endowment Funds is invested by the Government, and the interest earned is used to finance the contributions, grants and awards given to schools and students. The Government contributed an initial capital sum of $1 billion to the fund in 1993. The capital sum reached the target of $5 billion in August 1997.
If your child is a Singapore citizen and is studying full-time in a government, government-aided or independent school, junior college (JC), centralised institute (CI), Institute of Technical Education (ITE) or special education school, he can benefit from Edusave Pupil Fund, Grants and Scholarships. Here’s what they mean:
If your child reaches 16 and is not studying in any school, his Edusave balance will be transferred to his Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA). He can then use his PSEA to pay for approved fees and charges in approved institutions.
EDUSAVE PUPIL FUND (EPF)
What Is It?
An account set by the Government provides students and schools to pay for enrichment programmes, and school fees and special education fees, in excess of the school and standard miscellaneous fees
How Much?
Yearly top ups of $200 for primary school pupils and $240 for secondary school pupils.
Who Benefits?
Any Singaporean child in school, from age 6.
How To Use Funds?
Schools will seek your authorisation to withdrawal funds for enrichment programmes approved Fees.
Find Out More:
Call the Edusave Phone Enquiry System at (65) 6260 0777 to check the latest balance
EDUSAVE GRANTS (EG) (FOR SCHOOLS)
What Is It?
Annual grants given to schools to organise common enrichment programmes or purchase additional resources which benefit students.
How Much?
Yearly top ups of $50 for primary school pupils, $90 for secondary school pupils, $120 for junior colleges or centralised institute, $50 for special education and $100 for ITE, based on per pupil rate.
Who Benefits?
All primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, centralised institute, Institutes of Technical Education and special education schools.
EDUSAVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS (ESPS)
What Is It?
Scholarships for students in government or a government-aided schools.
How Much?
$400 for top 5% of cohort, $350 for next 5%
Who Benefits?
Students in Primary 5 or 6 who emerge top 10% of level and stream
How To Use Funds?
Schools select students for this scholarship based on year-end school examination results.
Find Out More:
Talk to your child’s school.
EDUSAVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS (ESSS)
What Is It?
Scholarships for students in government or a government-aided schools.
How Much?
$650 for top 5% of cohort, $400 for next 5%
Who Benefits?
Students in Sec 1 to 5 who emerge top 10% of level and stream
How To Use Funds?
Schools select students for this scholarship based on year-end school examination results.
Find Out More
Talk to your child’s school.
EDUSAVE ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (EESIS)
What Is It?
Scholarship awarded to Singaporean pupils are admitted to an independent school with outstanding PSLE performance.
How Much?
Covers part of the Independent school fees, up to an annual quantum of $2,400.
Who Benefits?
(a) Top one-third of the total number of Sec 1(S1) pupils admitted to all independent schools, based on PSLE results.
(b) Singaporean Pri 6(P6) GEP pupils who meet the P6 GEP promotion criteria, and are enrolled in the IP in an Independent School at S1. The scholar must make good progress each year in order to continue receiving the scholarship.
How To Use funds?
No application is required for the scholarship. Eligible pupils will be offered the EESIS
Find Out More:
Upon the release of the school posting results in December, pupils can check whether they have been offered the EESIS via the S1 Internet system (S1-IS).
EDUSAVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTEGRATED PROGRAMME SCHOOLS (ESIP)
What Is It?
Scholarship awarded to Singaporean pupils in schools offering the Integrated Programme (IP)
How Much?
Covers part of the Independent school fees, up to an annual quantum of $2,400.
Who Benefits?
Non-recipients of EESIS who are students in IP in an IS at Sec 3, who perform well in the Integrated Programme Scholarship Test (IPST).
How To Use Funds?
Pupils IP in an IS at Sec 3 will be invited by the school to apply for the scholarship at the end of Sec 2.
Find Out More:
Talk to your child’s school.
EDUSAVE (INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS) YEARLY AWARDS [E(IS)YA]
What Is It?
Scholarship awarded to Singaporean pupils are admitted to an independent school with good academic results and good conduct.
How Much?
Covers part of the Independent school fees, up to an annual quantum of $2,400.
Who Benefits?
Non-recipients of EESIS or ESIP, who are students in an IS
How To Use Funds?
No application is required for the scholarship. All pupils are considered for the E(IS)YA
Find Out More:
Pupils awarded the E(IS)YA will be informed through their schools by the beginning of the next academic year.
EDUSAVE MERIT BURSARY (EMB)
What Is It?
Bursary for students from households with income less than $4,000 a month.
How Much?
200 for Pri 1 to 3, $250 for Pri 4 to 6, $350 for Sec 1 to 5, $400 for JCs or CIs and $500 for ITE.
Who Benefits?
Non-recipient of any Edusave Scholarship, who is within the top 25% of each level and stream in his school
How To Use Funds?
MOE will send an application form in November orDecember each year if he qualifies. The completed application form is to be submitted to the community centre in your constituency.
Find Out More: Talk to your child’s schools.
GOOD PROGRESS AWARD (GPA)
What Is It?
An annual award given based for improvements made by your child in school’s year-end examinations when compared to the previous year.
How Much?
$100 for Pri 2 to 3, $150 for Pri 4 to 6,
$200 for Sec 1 to 5, $250 for JCs or CIs and $400 for ITE.
Who Benefits?
For non-recipients of Edusave scholarships and bursary, who show significant improvement in academic performance. Maximum 10% of pupils in each level and stream in every school, excluding Pri 1.
How To Use Funds?
Schools select students for this scholarship based on year-end school examination results.
Find out more: Talk to your child’s school.
EDUSAVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUSAVE AWARDS FOR ACHIEVEMENT, GOOD LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE (EAGLES)
What Is It?
An annual award given based on your child’s achievement in co-curricular activities and contributions to community services.
How Much?
$150 for Pri 4 to 6, $200 for Sec 1 to 5, JCs, CI and ITE.
Who Benefits?
For students who show leadership qualities and excel in non-academic areas. Maximum 5% of pupils in each level and stream in every school, from Pri 4 and up. Recipients of Edusave scholarships, bursaries or good progress award are also eligible.
How To Use Funds?
Schools select students for this award if they meet the criteria.
Find Out More:
Talk to your child’s school.
MOE has a comprehensive suite of funding sources. Other schemes such as MOE Financial Assistance Scheme, School Breakfast Programme, Opportunity Fund, Internationalisation Fund, coupled with significant subsidies for school fees and help from the community all ensure that Singaporean children have every support possible to benefit from the opportunities offered by our school.
