EDUN N25-02-004

01300

26 Feb 2000

FOREIGN STUDENT FEE POLICY

        The rates of school fees payable by students admitted to Government and Government-aided Schools, Junior Colleges and Centralised Institutes from 1 Jan 2001 will be linked directly to the students’ own citizenship or residency status instead of to that of their parents.

2     Hitherto, foreign students who are children of Singapore citizens or Singapore permanent residents have the privilege of paying the same concessionary rates of school fees as those enjoyed by students who are themselves Singapore citizens or Singapore permanent residents. Table 1 at the attached Appendixshows the concession in school fees payments extended to students who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents at Government and Government-aided Schools, Junior Colleges and Centralised Institutes. With effect from 1 Jan 2001, foreign students who are children of Singapore citizens or permanent residents and who are entering Government or Government-aided schools for the first time on or after this date, will no longer be granted the school fees concessions applicable to students who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents.

3     Foreign students who are children of Singapore citizens and Singapore Permanent residents may apply for Singapore citizenship or permanent residency and if they are successful in attaining such status will qualify for the concessions in the rates of school fees payable at Government and Government-aided Schools, Junior Colleges and Centralised Institutes. However, if they remain as non-citizens or non-permanent residents when they seek admission to a Government or Government-aided school when the new policy is implemented wef 1 Jan 2001, they have to pay foreign student rates of school fees.

4     To give parents of such foreign students time to consider taking up SC/PR status for their children, those admitted to Government or Government-aided schools in or after Jan 2001 will be allowed to pay concessionary rates of school fees for the first 2 school years. They will be required to pay the full foreign student rates from the third year onwards if they still do not obtain SC/PR status. Table 2 at Appendixshows the school fees payable by this category of foreign students under the new policy.

5     With this change in policy, foreign students who are dependants of work pass holders will be treated in the same way as the above group of foreign students. When the new policy is implemented wef 1 Jan 2001, dependants of work pass holders who are admitted to Government or Government-aided Schools, Junior Colleges and Centralised Institutes for the first time, will be allowed to pay concessionary rates of school fees for the first 2 years. They will pay foreign student fees from the 3rd year onwards, similar to foreign students with SC/PR parents.

6     Foreign students who are already in our schools, junior colleges and centralised institutes prior to 1 Jan 2001 will however not be affected by the changes and will continue to enjoy their existing privileges until they leave the school system.

Appendix

Table 1: Rates of school fees payable at Schools, JCs and CIs by students
who are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents

Table 2: Rates of school fees and other charges payable at schools, JCs and CIs by
foreign students whose parents are Singapore citizens, Singapore permanent residents
or workpass holders

Category of Foreign Students	Current Policy	New Policy
Foreign students with SC parents1:	Concessionary rates: Primary – Free Secondary - $5 pm Junior College - $6 pm	First 2 years Concessionary rates Other charges imposed on foreign students From 3rd year Foreign rates: Primary - $80 pm Secondary - $130 pm Junior College - $240 pm Other charges imposed on foreign students
Foreign students with SPR parents or are dependants of work pass holders	Concessionary rates: Primary - $3 pm Secondary - $5 pm Junior College - $6 pm

1 Malay students who are Singapore citizens or are children of Singapore citizens currently enjoy free education at both the primary and secondary/junior college levels