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SINGAPORE: More preschoolers from needy families look set to benefit from the PAP Community Foundation's (PCF) Headstart Fund as the foundation relaxes the eligibility criteria from January next year.
The fund was among 17 beneficiaries which received a total of S$664,000 from fund-raising efforts by the North West district on Sunday. The annual fundraiser has collected over S$4.3 million for over 70 charities since the event started in 2001.
Come next year, PCF will amend the household income criteria so that more children can qualify for financial assistance. A child is presently only eligible if his or her family's household income is under S$1,000 a month.
Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua, who is also a member of the PCF Council of Management, said: "What we have done is to go on a per capita basis for the household income, to bring down to S$500 per capita and that might actually allow us to help even more families."
Currently, 800 children benefit from the PCF Headstart Fund, which was introduced in 2004. It is expected to reach out to another 10 to 20 per cent more households when the guidelines are relaxed.
The median fee for PCF kindergarten ranges between S$100 and S$106 a month, while that of its childcare centre is about S$450.
There are two tiers to the PCF Headstart Fund. Most of the children who qualify will get S$50 a month, while those with special needs will receive twice the amount.
PCF does not specify how the money may be spent, but it said many parents use it to pay for school fees or enrichment courses for their children.
Speaking to the media later in the day, the prime minister said needy Singaporeans will be taken care of.
"We will see how the economy goes. As I said in the (National Day) Rally two weeks ago, this year – 4 to 5 per cent, next year – maybe a bit slower, but we'll see. We will take it in our stride.
"We have many programmes; we've just up the growth dividend second instalment, we've up the U-Save, so I think that would be of some significant help to them," said Mr Lee.
Bursaries amounting to S$100,000 were also given out to 50 polytechnic students at the event.
- CNA/so
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