Budget 2026 Educational Updates for Singapore

The Singapore Budget 2025 and the Committee of Supply Debate has unveiled a series of impactful educational updates aimed at strengthening support for students across all levels—from primary schools to junior colleges, as well as special education institutions. 

In response to evolving learning needs and a rapidly changing world, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced key policy shifts, funding enhancements, and curriculum updates that reflect the nation’s commitment to inclusive and future-ready education. 

This article will provide a comprehensive summary of the major announcements affecting primary, secondary, JC, and special education sectors, offering parents, educators, and students a clear view of what to expect in the coming academic years.

Primary School Education 

From 2026, Secondary 1 students who do well in their MTL (i.e. obtain AL1/AL2 in Mother Tongue Language or Distinction/Merit in Higher Mother Tongue Language-HTML) at PSLE will be able to offer HMTL in secondary school, regardless of their overall PSLE score.

Monetary Incentives 

More incentives will be given to provide more support to families with children. Parents will receive $500 in LifeSG credits for each Singaporean child aged 12 and below this year. These credits are the same as the LifeSG credits we gave to national servicemen last year. And parents can use them to defray their household expenses. 

Secondary School Education  

Monetary Incentives 

Every Singaporean aged 13 to 20 this year will also receive a $500 top-up to the Edusave account, or their PostSecondary Education Account. They can use this top-up to pay for their approved education-related expenses. 

Junior College Education  (JC) 

Revised Admission Criteria from 2028 

Special Education Education Needs (SPED)  

With the investments from the Singapore government, Early Intervention and Special Education(SPED) supports persons with disabilities until they are around 18. 

But many parents worry about what happens post-18, after their children graduate from the structured environment of a Special Education (or SPED) school.

Therefore the government has initiated the following measures announced at the Committee of Supply Debate:

1. MOE and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will expand the ITE-SG Enable (SGE) Internship and Employment Support Programme to support more Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students with SEN as they transit from ITE to employment.

2. From 1 June 2025, the IPA will be extended to support ITE graduates aged 30 and below who pursue diploma programmes offered under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ).

3. MOE has established a National SPED Curriculum with seven TLSs, to uplift the quality of curriculum, teaching and learning in SPED schools
   
   

Refer to the lists of schools and some of the differences here!