Building a ‘Smart Nation’ in Singapore doesn't come cheap

SINGAPORE (July 12): Schooling isn't cheap in Singapore: not just for citizens, but for the government too.

The city state boasts one of the best education systems in the world and as the government tries to transform the economy into a high-tech hub — part of its "Smart Nation" programme — it’s putting heavy emphasis on equipping students with skills for a digital economy.

Government spending on education has doubled since 2005 to $12.9 billion this year, or 17% of its total budget. That’s not only to pay for teachers and better infrastructure, but also subsidies for Singaporean students.

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