M1 launches new fund to help students from low income families

SINGAPORE - M1 Limited (M1) has launched a new student fund to provide supplementary support to school-going children from low income families.

In a statement released on Tuesday, M1 will donate $200,000 towards the M1 Students Support Fund each year.

Students from ten primary schools will be able to use on school-related expenses other than what is already provided for by existing Ministry of Education (MOE) and school-based financial assistance schemes.

The M1 Student Support Fund is M1's first financial aid fund with a fixed committed amount each year.

The ten schools, comprising Angsana Primary School, Blangah Rise Primary School, Boon Lay Garden Primary School, Dazhong Primary School, East View Primary School, Macpherson Primary School, Marsiling Primary School, New Town Primary School, Si Ling Primary School, and Xinghua Primary School, can choose how the funds will be used to assist their students.

According to The Straits Times, the schools are chosen by MOE based on the students' profiles.

"We can use some of the funds to purchase additional reading materials for the pupils. This will ensure that the students have ready access to interesting and age-appropriate reading materials both at home and in school to help them develop the habit of reading, which in turn will improve their literacy skills." said Mrs Chandrika Mano, Principal of Xinghua Primary School.

Mr Lim Chew Hiong Richard, Principal of Si Ling Primary School, said: "We can reach out in more ways to financially needy students. Such community efforts are welcome as they help to augment the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme and various school programmes in place to support our students' needs and will allow us to do more for our students."

stephluo@sph.com.sg