Are you considering an MOE Kindergarten for your child? Or have you wondered why your fellow parents seem so keen on MOE Kindergartens?
Here’s what you need to know.
MOE Kindergartens are government-managed preschools co-located with primary schools, giving children priority admission for Primary 1.
Half-day programmes (morning or afternoon) are available, with full-day KCare as an add-on option.
Monthly fees for 2026 are S$160 for Singapore Citizens and S$320 for Singapore Permanent Residents.
What is an MOE Kindergarten?
MOE Kindergartens are preschools that fall under the Ministry of Education’s purview.
These kindergartens are linked to Early Year Centres, which take in children from two months to four years old. With this partnership, eligible children are guaranteed a place in an MOE Kindergarten from ages five to six.
At MOE Kindergartens, programmes are half-day, and these are the options:
Morning session (8am to 12pm)
Afternoon session (1pm to 5pm)
There is an official registration process, but you can also check directly with kindergartens about vacancies.
What is the advantage of attending an MOE Kindergarten?
MOE Kindergartens appeal to parents who are highly concerned about primary school readiness, as well as securing a space in a conveniently located primary school.
Because these kindergartens are aligned with the MOE, parents won’t have to worry that their children won’t be sufficiently prepared for academic work in Primary 1. Moreover, the MOE Kindergarten curriculum is defined in the Nurturing Early Learners framework, and these are some of the learning outcomes:
English Language
Listen for enjoyment and information
Speak with confidence to convey meaning
Read with enjoyment and understanding
Use symbols, letter-like shapes, letters, and words to communicate ideas and information
Mother Tongue Language (MTL)
Show interest in learning the MTL
Develop foundational language and literacy skills in the MTL
Develop awareness of local culture
Numeracy
Enjoy learning and using numeracy concepts and skills in daily life
Understand relationships and patterns
Develop counting skills and number sense
Understand basic shapes and spatial concepts
Apart from the curriculum, parents also appreciate that MOE Kindergartens share premises with primary schools, and there is priority admission when it comes time to register for Primary 1.
What if I require full-day care for my child, but still wish to enrol them in an MOE Kindergarten?
If you need full-day service, you can register for Kindergarten Care (KCare), which is offered at all MOE Kindergartens.
KCare operates from Monday to Friday, till 7pm, including school holidays. It is closed on public holidays, Teachers’ Day, Children’s Day and up to six additional days each year.
The KCare programme includes meals as well as age-appropriate activities, such as:
Art and craft
Cookery
Gardening
Indoor and outdoor play (dramatic play, sand play, water play)
KCare centres are located within the MOE Kindergarten sites, and you can read more about this service on the MOE website.
What are the fees for MOE Kindergartens?
The monthly fee for MK in 2026 is:
S$160 for Singapore Citizens
S$320 for Singapore Permanent Residents
Fees are also payable during the June and December holidays. There are no additional expenses for complementary programmes such as field trips.
As for KCare, the maximum monthly fee for 2026 is S$415. Fees also apply during the June and December holidays.
For information on subsidies, do visit the MOE website.
Where can I find a list of MOE Kindergartens in Singapore?
Simply use the MOE’s SchoolFinder tool, where you can view schools by entering your postal code, or preferred area.
There are currently 60 MOE Kindergartens listed in their database. When you click on the individual school pages, you will also be able to see which primary school they share premises with.
If I want to consider private kindergartens as well, what can they offer?
Private preschools may be managed by individuals or private companies. They tend to adopt one or more of these approaches:
Montessori: Child-led learning with hands-on activities
Reggio Emilia: Project-based learning emphasising creativity and collaboration
Waldorf Steiner: Holistic development through imagination and nature
Multiple Intelligences: Activities tailored to diverse cognitive strengths
Play-based learning: Learning through structured and free play
Inquiry-based learning: Exploration driven by curiosity and questioning
Mandarin-focused/Chinese immersion: Language proficiency through bilingual education
For these preschools, do visit their websites or book a school tour to get a better sense of their curriculum and outcomes.
Below are two private preschools that you can check out.
Want to chat more about MOE Kindergartens or preschools in general?
Start a conversation on the KiasuParents forum!
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