SINGAPORE — For 15-year-old Rizmawati Abdul Rasiap, the S$350 Edusave Merit Bursary — which she received from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday (Jan 6) — will allow her to go for tuition classes to pull up her Mathematics grades, and provide her with additional pocket money.

Rizmawati, a Secondary 4 student at Yio Chu Kang Secondary School, told TODAY that while her grades are “still okay”, she is “still struggling” in the subject. “I could use the bursary to take up tuition for Mathematics,” she added.

She was one of more than 1,000 students who were recognised at the annual Ministry of Education Edusave Awards and Teck Ghee CCC (Citizens’ Consultative Committee) Bursary Awards on Saturday (Jan 6), attended by Mr Lee who oversees the Teck Ghee ward in the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency.

Having been a student counsellor for the past two years, Rizmawati said the role taught her how to be independent and vocal in public. “I was very shy and didn’t dare to speak up. Being a councillor disciplined me a lot,” she added.

Rizmawati’s father, Mr Abdul Rasiap Lisut, 64, earns S$1,800 a month as a security guard. He is the sole breadwinner of the family and Rizmawati’s mother, Mdm Rosnah Atan, 55, is a housewife.

“Sometimes we have to give her less pocket money, but she doesn’t complain,” Mdm Rosnah said.

Rizmawati, an only child, has four older half-siblings aged 36 to 40 from Mdm Rosnah’s previous marriage. Mdm Rosnah said that it was also difficult providing pocket money for her older children, as she was working as a school attendant then and her first husband was jobless.

“I am very happy that Rizmawati got this bursary. It is her second or third time getting it. It will help in terms of money… but (at the end of the day), I just want her to be happy,” Mdm Rosnah added.

In his speech at the awards ceremony held at Townsville Primary School in Ang Mo Kio, Mr Lee cited Rizmawati and noted how she “works hard to overcome” challenges. “Her peers and juniors look up to her as a role model,” he said.

Mr Lee reiterated that “early and targeted” support has made a difference to students, particularly those from lower-income families. This support includes scholarships, as well as bursaries for those who need financial assistance.

“These bursaries will give the families and students peace of mind while the students can concentrate, focus and study to complete their schooling,” said Mr Lee, who is a Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

About half of Singapore’s students in the bottom socioeconomic quarter emerge in the top quarter of performance internationally, after accounting for their background, Mr Lee added.

He was referring to a November 2017 report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, which highlighted that students from Singapore outperformed their peers in other countries with similar backgrounds. “The Government works hard but we don’t do this alone. We need parents, we need the community to come together to support the students as well,” he said.