Statement From PM Lee Hsien Loong on New Special Awards for Students

Last year, I set up an endowment fund for two education awards, to recognise students who have persevered and done well, and schools which have found effective ways to help these students.

This year, after discussing with MOE, I will create two more education awards. One award will recognise students who have done well both academically and non-academically, and have contributed to the community in enterprising ways, whether they have studied in the Junior Colleges, ITE, Polytechnics or Universities. The other award will recognise top students from the Bicultural Studies Programme (Chinese) and the Regional Studies Programme.

I am contributing an additional $500,000 into the endowment fund this year¹. This will enable the endowment to generate enough returns to fund all four awards. Over the next few years, I intend to make further contributions to build up the endowment.

Education is the key to success in life. It gives students the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge to create better lives for themselves. I hope that the awards will encourage students to do their best and excel, and help to foster an inclusive education system that nurtures students of all talents and abilities.

[1] The amount comes from the salary increase of $1,040,000 I received in 2008, as a result of the salary adjustments in April 2007. I have donated the rest of the salary increase to a range of community, grassroots, arts and welfare organisations.

MOE PRESS RELEASE ON NEW LHL AWARDS