In financial year 2022, the total government expenditure on education was approximately 13.25 billion Singapore dollars. Singapore needs to invest in its education system, as it relies on a skilled and educated workforce to support its economy.
Investing in its most important resource
Lacking in land and natural resources, Singapore’s most important resource is its people. Improvements and investments in the education system were necessary to build up a workforce capable of transitioning from a manufacturing-based economy to a highly diversified, services-based economy. These investments led to an increase in years of schooling in the population, as well as improvements in educational attainment.
Preparing for industry 4.0
Singapore’s education system places heavy emphasis on STEM subjects. Students from Singapore tend to excel in the PISA tests in science and mathematics. However, to remain competitive in a smart technology-based economy, Singapore needs to do more to foster creativity and risk-taking. More too needs to be done to ensure that certain sectors of society still receive quality education, in order to not be left behind. As of financial 2022, education spending on polytechnics and ITES, considered to be less prestigious and academically rigorous options for post-secondary education, was considerably less than that for universities.
Government total expenditure on education in Singapore from financial years 2012 to 2022
(in billion Singapore dollars)
Characteristic
Government expenditure in billion Singapore dollars
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Singapore Department of Statistics. (September 11, 2023). Government total expenditure on education in Singapore from financial years 2012 to 2022 (in billion Singapore dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/624666/government-expenditure-on-education-in-singapore/
Singapore Department of Statistics. "Government total expenditure on education in Singapore from financial years 2012 to 2022 (in billion Singapore dollars)." Chart. September 11, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 10, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/624666/government-expenditure-on-education-in-singapore/
Singapore Department of Statistics. (2023). Government total expenditure on education in Singapore from financial years 2012 to 2022 (in billion Singapore dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 10, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/624666/government-expenditure-on-education-in-singapore/
Singapore Department of Statistics. "Government Total Expenditure on Education in Singapore from Financial Years 2012 to 2022 (in Billion Singapore Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 11 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/624666/government-expenditure-on-education-in-singapore/
Singapore Department of Statistics, Government total expenditure on education in Singapore from financial years 2012 to 2022 (in billion Singapore dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/624666/government-expenditure-on-education-in-singapore/ (last visited December 10, 2024)
Government total expenditure on education in Singapore from financial years 2012 to 2022 (in billion Singapore dollars) [Graph], Singapore Department of Statistics, September 11, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/624666/government-expenditure-on-education-in-singapore/