Transfer of Unused Balances in Child Development Account to Edusave Account Upon Child's Entry into Primary School

Mr Victor Lye asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Ministry will allow the transfer of unused balances in the Child Development Account (CDA) into the child's Edusave Account under the Ministry of Education once a child enters primary school, so that these funds may continue to support educational needs beyond the preschool years.

The Child Development Account (CDA) and Edusave Account serve different purposes.

The Edusave scheme was established in 1993 to support the education of Singaporean students in primary and secondary school. Students can use their Edusave funds to pay for miscellaneous fees, approved school enrichment programmes and purchase of learning devices at secondary and pre-university levels. The Government provides annual contributions and ad hoc top-ups to Edusave. Parents who require additional financial support for educational expenses may apply for financial assistance from the Ministry of Education.

The CDA was established in 2001 as a special co-savings account to support parents in managing the cost of raising their children. CDA monies can be used for preschool and childcare expenses, and for healthcare or developmental needs at Baby Bonus-approved institutions, up till the time the child turns 12. As such, transferring unused balances to the child's Edusave Account when the child enters primary school will deprive parents from using the CDA balance for other purposes.

Taken together, parents can tap on Edusave and CDA to defray their child's educational and non-educational expenses during the primary school years. Unused CDA balances at the end of age 12 will be automatically transferred to the child's Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) to continue to support the child's educational expenses beyond primary and secondary school.

We will continue to review the uses of CDA to ensure they remain relevant to parents' needs.