We refer to Madam Lui Bee Gek’s letter, “Education grant denied for want of results slip”, dated 20 Dec 2010 and thank her for her feedback.
We would like to clarify that the main objective of the NTUC GB Education Grant is to motivate members’ children who are currently schooling to continue to strive for academic excellence. It is necessary to produce the result slips of the preceding year of studies so as to allow us to ensure that the child scored a minimum pass, i.e. 50%, in school results. At the same time, it serves to provide some financial relief to help low income families cope with the educational expenses of their children.
For the year 2010, the NTUC U Care Fund has disbursed over $8.3 million to low income union members and their families through 6 assistance programmes – U Stretch vouchers, Family Recreation & Fun Carnivals, U Care Scholarship/Bursary Top-Up scheme, U Care Back to School vouchers, and donations to NTUC Eldercare Trust and NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons Fund. Out of the $8.3 million from the U Care Fund, over $5 million went towards supporting education needs of children from low income families.
We are happy to note from our records that one of Madam Lui’s children was a beneficiary of the U Care Back to School vouchers last year. We would also like to invite Madam Lui to apply for the NTUC GB Education Grant for her child in 2011 when her first year’s results slip becomes available. We will continue to monitor our members’ needs and enhance our programmes along the way.
Vivek Kumar
Director, Membership
National Trades Union Congress
