Edusave is the Ministry of Education's fund for school-related costs, and it has two parts that parents often mix up: the Edusave Account, which the government tops up every year, and Edusave awards, which are paid to selected students in cash. This guide explains both, using MOE's own pages as the source.
The Edusave Account
Every Singapore Citizen has an Edusave Account created automatically. Students in MOE-funded schools receive an annual contribution from the start of primary school until they complete secondary school. Singapore Citizens who are not in MOE-funded schools, such as children in madrasahs, privately funded schools, home-schooling or living overseas, receive contributions from age 7 to 16.
| Level | Annual Edusave contribution (2026) |
|---|---|
| Primary school | $230 |
| Secondary school | $290 |
| JC and Millennia Institute | None (existing funds can still be used) |
A few points parents often ask about:
- You cannot top it up yourself. MOE states that parents cannot contribute to a child's Edusave account.
- It is not cash. The money is used for approved school fees and enrichment programmes organised by the school.
- After secondary school, JC and MI students may receive a top-up to their Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) if there is a government top-up and they are eligible.
The Edusave awards
Edusave awards go to Singapore Citizen students based on character, leadership, conduct, learning dispositions and academic performance. MOE groups them into two kinds.
Academic awards
- Edusave Scholarship (ES) for students in government and government-aided primary and secondary schools, and specialised schools.
- Edusave Merit Bursary (EMB), which also takes household income into account.
- Edusave Good Progress Award (GPA), which recognises students who make good progress in their results. The GPA looks at your child's progress year on year.
- Edusave Scholarship for Independent Schools (ESIS).
Non-academic awards
- Edusave Award for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service (EAGLES).
- Edusave Character Award (ECHA).
- Edusave Skills Award (ESA) for students in specialised schools, ITE and polytechnics.
A student can receive only one Edusave academic award in a year: the ES, the EMB or the GPA. Award amounts differ by school type and education level, so check the current figures on MOE's Edusave awards page before you plan around them.
How the award process works
For primary schools, secondary schools, specialised schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute, MOE's process runs like this:
- Notification letter from MOE by mid-December.
- Invitation to the award ceremony from your Constituency Office, for a ceremony between January and March.
- Set up PayNow (NRIC) for your child before the ceremony. Award money is not paid into a parent's bank account, in cash, or through PayNow linked to a mobile number or a parent's NRIC.
- Attend the ceremony and collect the certificate.
- Receive the award money through PayNow (NRIC), within about a week of MOE receiving the attendance list from the Constituency Office.
If your child misses the ceremony, MOE pays the award through PayNow (NRIC) by a set date. For the 2026 cycle at primary, secondary, JC and MI level, that date was 19 March 2026. If the PayNow payout fails, MOE contacts you for your child's bank details and pays within two weeks, and no later than end-April.
ITE and polytechnic students follow a different calendar, and can check their award status online with Singpass.
What to do as a parent
- Set up PayNow (NRIC) for your child early, before any award letter arrives, so a payout is not delayed.
- Keep the December letter. It tells you which award your child received and what happens next.
- Use the Edusave Account for school programmes your child would benefit from, since the balance cannot be withdrawn as cash.
- Look at progress, not only rank. The Good Progress Award exists because improvement matters, and steady progress in school tests is something every family can work on.
