Methodist schools get $1.5m in funding

SINGAPORE - To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Methodist Schools' Foundation disbursed $1.5 million to its beneficiary schools on Friday night. It was the largest single amount the foundation has given out since it was set up in 1997. The money was raised through fund-raising activities and earnings from investments.

The foundation presented cheques to various school representatives at a thanksgiving dinner at the Singapore Island Country Club. Its chairman Albert Ng said in statement: "We believe in cultivating not only a strong educational foundation for our students, but also a culture of charity and service."

The funds can be used by the 16 Methodist schools, such as Methodist Girls' School and Geylang Methodist Secondary School, to improve building facilities, purchase educational equipment and provide bursaries and subsidies for their students.

For Government-aided and independent schools, the Ministry of Education bears 95 per cent and 90 per cent respectively of the cost of school upgrading projects.

Mrs Chaillan Mui Tuan, principal of Fairfield Methodist School (Primary), said: "The funds given to the Fairfield schools will contribute to the building of a performing arts studio and raise the quality of holistic education."

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