Committee of Supply 2023 debate, Day 3: Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap on eligibility for Edusave awards and MOE financial assistance

Singaporean students studying in full-time madrasahs are not eligible for the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Edusave awards because madrasahs are private educational institutions and not public schools. Sharing this in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 28), MP Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap proposed that full-time madrasah students excelling in non-religious subjects be eligible for Edusave awards, while the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) continues to give awards only for religious subjects. He said this will boost financial support for madrasah students and their families while fostering solidarity among students regardless of the institution they attend. It will also add to existing efforts to maintain inter-religious and interracial harmony in Singapore, he said. Secondly, Mr Faisal proposed that MOE extend its Financial Assistance Scheme to all Singaporean students who need it, no matter the institution they are attending. He said it should also be available to needy students who are Permanent Residents, provided one of their parents or step-parents is a Singapore citizen.