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More subsidies for lower-income students in independent schools

SINGAPORE — Students from lower-income families who are studying in independent schools will receive more subsidies from next year, announced the Ministry of Education (MOE) yesterday.

SINGAPORE — Students from lower-income families who are studying in independent schools will receive more subsidies from next year, announced the Ministry of Education (MOE) yesterday.

This is to better ensure that all Singaporeans who qualify for and would like to pursue an education in these institutions can do so, in line with the vision to make “top schools” open to students of all backgrounds outlined by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the National Day Rally (NDR) in August.

The Independent School Bursary (ISB), which currently covers only school fees, will be expanded to cover miscellaneous fees, which include cost of teaching and printing materials for students in the schools.

Currently, a student from a family with monthly gross household income below S$4,000 receives a 75 per cent subsidy on school fees. From next year, it will be increased to 90 per cent of school and miscellaneous fees. Students from households with a monthly gross income of between S$4,001 to S$5,000 will get 70 per cent subsidy, up from 50 per cent, while those from households with an income of between S$5,001 and S$6,000 will receive 50 per cent subsidy, up from 33 per cent.

Independent schools charge fees ranging from S$250 to S$450 a month, excluding miscellaneous fees which range from S$35 to S$100 a month. A check with all eight independent schools found that none are planning to raise fees for Singaporeans, although fees are going up for permanent residents and international students at some schools.

During the NDR, Mr Lee had said that Singapore will continue to have top schools, but these schools must make sure students from low-income backgrounds “are not put off from applying to enter for fear that they cannot afford it”. “We have the schemes; we should enhance them substantially so that anybody who qualifies and wants to attend these top secondary schools can confidently do so,” he said.

About 2,700 students have benefited from the ISB this year. One beneficiary is Muhammad Khalis B Saimon, a year one student at Raffles Institution. The 13-year-old gets a 100 per cent subsidy under the ISB and will now be exempt from paying the monthly miscellaneous fees of S$35 as well.

He said the bursary has helped lightened the financial burden on his father, who is the sole breadwinner of the family. “With one burden lifted off their shoulders, my parents are now able to give their full support, both in academic help or even just words of encouragement,” said Khalis.

Last year, the MOE began looking at monthly per capita income when considering eligibility for its aid schemes — including the ISB — so more students, such as those from larger families, can benefit.

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