Foundation spends RM4m yearly to assist needy students
KUANTAN: Eco World Foundation, the charity arm of Eco World Development Group Bhd, spends about RM4 million annually to assist underprivileged students by providing basic educational needs under the Student Aid Programme (SAP).
Eco World Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the amount had been allocated since four years ago and to date it had helped about 6,000 students from several states, including Pahang, Penang, Johor, Kedah, Selangor, Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak.
He said through SAP, selected underprivileged students would be given assistance throughout their primary, secondary and tertiary education if they continuously obtained excellent results in examinations.
“All underprivileged pupils are qualified and there is no scholarship involved. Instead, the foundation pays their expenses, including food at the canteen, school uniform and fees to attend computer classes.
“The foundation wants to ensure underprivileged pupils would not be left out from receiving the required assistance to excel in their studies.
“When a pupil under the SAP does well in primary school, he or she will continue to receive the assistance in secondary school, and at higher learning institutions.
“Once they enter higher learning institutions, we will cover their study fees and living costs,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after closing a three-day Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) motivation camp here yesterday.
Lee said under SAP, each pupil was provided with educational assistance worth RM1,000 to RM1,300 annually through their primary education; RM1,000 to RM1,400 annually for secondary education; and RM8,000 to RM18,000 annually for tertiary education.
Lee said the foundation had established a strong relationship with the Education Ministry to implement SAP and it was among the approaches to improve those from under privileged backgrounds through education.
“SAP involves underprivileged pupils from Sekolah Kebangsaan, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil).
“The foundation will deploy its volunteers to conduct home visits to check on the background of its applicants (students) as we want to ensure only those who genuinely qualify receive the assistance,” he said.
Meanwhile, 43 Year Six pupils from seven schools in Pekan attended the UPSR motivation camp, which ended yesterday. The camp seeks to assist them to be academically and mentally prepared to face the examinations.
Lee said students were taught techniques to answer UPSR exam questions and given coaching so that they could do well in the examinations.
The seven schools were SK Ahmad, SK Chini 3 & 5, SK Indera Shahbandar, SK Langgar, SK Mambang, SK Nenasi and SK Seri Terentang.