MS JUSTINA Ho, 20, an Institute of Technical Education (ITE) student, earns about $150 a month working at weekends at a McDonald's fast-food outlet.

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That is just about the only income Justina and the elderly godparents who live with her earn for themselves. The good news is that the new Short Term Study Assistance Scheme allows needy students like Justina to seek up to $2,060 a year in extra aid.

Justina has so far received about $1,000 in financial aid that has been applied for by her ITE teachers. The class representative, who is studying electronics engineering, said: 'I want to save the money up for my polytechnic education.'

WHAT'S NEW IN THIS BUDGET

• The new Short-Term Study Assistance Scheme allows students to apply for up to $2,060 worth of extra aid a year.
• To qualify, the applicant's gross monthly household per capita income should be $1,700 and below.
• The student should be already receiving existing financial assistance like loans and bursaries.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.