More students to qualify for CDAC bursaries after change in income ceiling to help needy families
Families attend the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) "Ready for School" carnival at Nanyang Junior College on Dec 3, 2023. (Photo: Chinese Development Assistance Council)
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SINGAPORE: The Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) has revised the income ceiling for its bursaries by doubling the limit, meaning more students from needy families will qualify from next year.
Starting January, those with a gross monthly household income of S$4,800 (US$3,600) and below can apply, up from the current S$2,400. The gross per capita income limit of S$800 will also rise to S$1,400, said CDAC in a media release on Sunday (Dec 3).
The new income criterion applies to both the CDAC-Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations Bursary for primary and secondary school students, and the Youth Empowerment & Aspiration Programme Grant for post-secondary school students.
Primary and secondary school bursary recipients will get S$300 and S$480 respectively, while grant recipients from post-secondary schools will get S$720.
CDAC, which last revised its income criteria in 2020, said it was timely to review the income ceiling to serve the needs of low-income families.
It has set aside S$38.69 million in its 2024 budget to run its programmes and support schemes, about 10 per cent higher than the projected spending of S$35.07 million this year.
About 17,000 households are expected to benefit through its support programmes next year, with the organisation expecting more applications for the bursary following the change.
The announcement was made by North West District Mayor and CDAC board member Alex Yam on Sunday at CDAC's "Ready for School" (RFS) carnival at Nanyang Junior College, where Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat was guest-of-honour.
Under the annual RFS project, which provides support for beneficiaries to prepare for the new academic year, each family will receive S$200 worth of transport e-vouchers.
Each school-going child will also receive S$80 worth of e-vouchers to purchase books, stationery, uniforms, shoes or other school-related items (up to a maximum of three school-going children in 2024 per family).
Around 5,000 people from about 1,500 families attended Sunday's event.
