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SINGAPORE : Up to 1,000 more children will benefit from tuition fee subsidies next year. The Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) has announced an easing of its income eligibility criteria for its education programme.
The last revision was made four years ago. And the CDAC is prepared to do more.
Mr Lim Tong Heng's two children are not doing well in English and Mathematics.
And with a monthly income of S$2,400, his family did not qualify for subsidised tuition under the CDAC's education programme. But they soon will.
Starting from next year, families with a gross monthly household income of not more than S$2,500 or a per capita income of S$650 will qualify for the subsidies.
Currently, only those with a gross monthly household income not exceeding S$2,000 or a per capita income of S$500 qualify.
The tuition fee for each primary school student will cost S$8 per subject per month, while that for a secondary school student will be S$12 per subject each month.
Changes have also been made to the tuition fee waiver scheme. Families with a gross monthly household income not exceeding S$1,200 or a per capita income of not more than S$300 will now qualify.
This has been revised upwards from the gross monthly household income criteria of S$1,000.
Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong, who also chairs the CDAC Education Committee, said the CDAC is prepared to conduct another revision if the economic downturn becomes worse.
He said: "During this time, when the needs have increased, CDAC is prepared to put in more funds in order to finance the expanded programmes. Fortunately over the last few years, CDAC has been very prudent in our programmes, so we have some savings from our operating funds."
CDAC's education programme budget is currently around S$4.6 million. But there are plans to increase it to about S$4.9 million next year to support the expanded education programme.
Currently, about 7,500 students benefit from the CDAC education help schemes. - CNA/ms
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