It’s back to school with a broader smile for more than 600 students who are recipients of more than half a million dollars worth of NTUC FairPrice’s study grants.

Given out to children of FairPrice’s members and employees in need of financial support, the study grants range from $200 for primary school pupils to $3,000 for university undergraduates. The students are from Primary, Secondary, JC, ITE, Polytechnic and University levels. NTUC FairPrice CEO Mr Tan Kian Chew presented more than $250,000 worth of study grants to 396 children of FairPrice employees today at a presentation ceremony. Study grants to children of FairPrice members will be presented at a later date.

“Students face tremendous pressure these days to perform well. Students who come from low income families have to cope with even more struggles. With these study grants, we hope to be able to bear some of these burdens and reduce the strain on these needy students, so that they can focus on their studies and be encouraged,” said Mr Tan.

15-year-old Nur’Anrah Putri Binti Haris, a student grant recipient from Woodgrove Secondary School agrees, “The money is coming in at the right time for me to cope with high study expenses like textbooks and assessment books. I am thankful for the study grant from FairPrice as it has helped to lighten the load on my parents who are not earning much.”

NTUC FairPrice has been giving out annual study grants to its members’ and employees’ children since 1985. The annual bursary award serves to provide financial assistance to the less well-to-do members and employees for their children’s education. To date, NTUC FairPrice has contributed more than $5.75 million in this area.

Apart from giving out study grants, FairPrice also helps needy students through the Used Textbooks Project every year. Through this project, FairPrice hopes to help them save on textbooks costs and to encourage Singaporeans to be more environmentally friendly by reusing school textbooks. This year, collection of used textbooks will be at Yio Chu Kang Community Club and Downtown East. Students under the priority collection scheme will get the first pick of free used textbooks on 10 December 2005 while the public can collect on 12 December 2005. More information on the Used Textbooks Project is available at www.fairprice.com.sg and our Hotline 6424 7505.