SINGAPORE - The Edusave Awards will not be extended to students in private schools, including those in the six full-time madrasahs here that offer both religious and secular subjects, said Minister of State for Education Sim Ann in Parliament on Monday.

It would not be appropriate to extend the awards to private schools, because they recognise "secular academic and non-academic achievements in the context of Ministry of Education-funded schools", she said.

She was responding to Mr Faisal Manap (Aljunied GRC), who wanted to know if the Education Ministry would consider extending the Edusave Awards to full-time madrasah students.

Edusave was introduced to support the holistic development of students in schools funded by MOE, said Ms Sim.

Edusave contributions were recently extended to all Singaporeans aged 7 to 16 years old - even those not in MOE-funded schools - so they can receive support for secular enrichment activities.

Ms Sim added that madrasah students receive support from other avenues.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, for instance, helps madrasah students from low-income families, and needy madrasah students can receive the Promas Performance Award, she said.