From January, fees for permanent residents at government schools will be 20 percent higher, the ministry said in a statement. Fees for foreign students will rise by 30 percent by 2009.

Independent schools can continue to set their own fees, as long as permanent residents pay at least 20 percent more than citizens and foreign students pay at least 50 percent more, it said.

Permanent residents currently pay the same school fees as citizens, while foreign students are charged more.

As of 2009, the fees for permanent residents studying at polytechnic institutes and universities will be 10 percent higher than for citizens. The rate for foreign students will be 50 percent more.

The move comes a week after the government said it would cut medical subsidies for foreign workers next year in order to subsidize Singapore's aging population.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said at the time that it was unfair for Singaporeans to subsidize foreigners.

"When we started treating all foreign workers like Singaporeans many years ago, the numbers were small. But over the years, as you can see, the economy, the structure, has changed and the numbers of foreign workers will continue to grow," he said.

Among Singapore's population of 4.48 million, about 3.12 million are citizens, 480,000 are permanent residents and 875,500 are foreigners.

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