In Singapore, the Compulsory Education Act (Cap 51) was passed by parliament on 9 October 2000 and was assented to the President on 16 October 2000. The statute provides for compulsory primary education for students in Singapore. In accordance to the Act, a child is of an age of compulsory education is one who is above the age of 6 years and has not reach the age of 15 years. A child of compulsory school age born after 1 January 1996, and who is a Singapore citizen residing in Singapore must attend a national primary school regularly with the exception of the child being exempted from compulsory education, e.g. a child with special needs and a child receiving home-schooling.

Under the Compulsory Education Act (Cap 51), a child who fails to attend regularly as a student of a national primary school or a designated school/be home-schooled (where exemption is granted), the parents or guardian may be guilty of an offence under the Act. The penalties provided in the Act for a person to be convicted for the offence are a fine not exceeding S$5,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both.[20]