SINGAPORE: The Government will revise the income eligibility criteria for the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) scheme to benefit more Malay students from low-income families.
The TTFS scheme, introduced in 1991, covers their tuition fees at tertiary institutions.
Students from households with a per capita income (PCI) of S$1,400 and below will receive 100 per cent subsidy, while those with PCI between S$1,400 and S$1,700, and between S$1,700 and S$2,000, will receive 75 per cent and 50 per cent subsidy respectively.
The income bands were S$1000 and below, S$1001 to S$1200, and S$1201 to S$1500 for the respective subsidies previously.
Announcing the revision in Parliament on Thursday (Mar 8), Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said: "We recognise that the per capita income of families has risen over the last few years."
The revisions will take effect from Academic Year 2018/2019, Dr Yaacob said, adding that MENDAKI will provide more details.
AdvertisementAdvertisementCalling the TTFS a "key Government policy" that supports the education of low-income Malay students, Dr Yaacob added: "We are committed to helping all who deserve and seek assistance."
Meanwhile, Dr Yaacob, who is also the Communications and Information Minister, said MENDAKI will launch a “Back-to-Work Women” programme to help more low-income families enrol their children into full-day childcare.
"This provides a conducive environment for the child’s development," Dr Yaacob said, noting that it will help mothers be gainfully employed.
"Besides enhancing the family’s income, they will be able to tap on more childcare subsidies, and quality preschool education will become more affordable."
MENDAKI will also work with Early Childhood Development Agency and the Ministry of Social and Family Development to study how the agencies can assist low-income families enrol their children in quality childcare and preschool education, he added.
Let's block ads! (Why?)
More...