NTUC helps 997 members' children with $138,500 worth of scholarships and education grants
18 October 2008
Media Release
1. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) held its annual General Branch Scholarship Awards and Education Grants Ceremony on 18 and 19 October 2007 at the NTUC Centre. Into its 13th year, this year’s Scholarship Awards and Education Grants, totaling $138,500, benefited 997 children and youths as NTUC continues to help them defray the cost of their educations. The scholarships are awarded to children of NTUC General Branch members who performed exceedingly well in their studies. The education grants are given to students from lower income families to help them cope with their education expenses.
2. Madam Halimah Yacob, Deputy Secretary-General for NTUC and the Guest-of-Honour at the ceremony said, “We are happy to be able to help nearly 1000 of our members’ children in furthering their studies and provide the opportunity for these children to expand their potential and capabilities. The NTUC General Branch Scholarship is intended to reward members’ children with outstanding academic performance as well as to spur them to strive for academic excellence continuously. We hope the education grants will provide some financial relief to the lower income families to help them cope with the educational expenses of their children.”
3. The NTUC General Branch Scholarship is available to General Branch union members whose children are currently pursuing their studies in a recognised local institution or university. The scholarships, ranging from $100 to $1,000, are awarded based on academic performance. The Education Grant is a one-time off $100 assistance to help members with schooling expenses for their children. For more information on the breakdown of amount awarded, please refer to Annex 1 for more details. Ordinary Branch union members can also apply for scholarships and education grants through their respective unions. These grants are also given out on a yearly basis to assist those in need and are distributed through the unions.
4. Mr Toh Keng Beng, works as a warehouse assistant and is the sole bread winner for his family of four. As he suffers from chronic heart disease, his medical expenses have been a large drain on his $1800 monthly salary. His wife and home-maker, Ms Catherine Goh said, "I am very thankful to NTUC for awarding the education grants to both my sons over the past three years. The money is a big help to us as my sons will be able to buy their textbooks, stationeries and uniforms for the new school term. It definitely is a load off my mind”.
6. “I am happy that my daughter is receiving the scholarship for the third time from NTUC this year. I am very proud of her and believes this will motivate her to continue to work harder in her studies in the future,” said Mdm Nor Ashrena Bte AB Rahim, whose daughter is currently studying in Crescent’s Girls’ School.
7. Of the 2052 children who received the NTUC Scholarship Awards and Education Grants over the past three years, over 30% of them had either received the Scholarship Awards or the Education Grants from NTUC for more than once.
Mdm Halimah Yacob
Deputy Secretary-General, NTUC
Annex 1
