Why can't I get subsidy for university education?
The Straits Times
Sept 30, 2005
I am a student of the National University of Singapore and have
just matriculated two months ago. What is very displeasing to me
are the subsidies and the financial aid to help me pay my school
fees.
My family's income is only $1,000 a month and paying $3,000 for
each semester (there are eight semesters) is totally impossible for
me.
SINDA did not help me when I approached it for financial
assistance. SINDA told me there is no policy for Indian tertiary
students to receive financial help.
It is very unfair because two of my Muslim friends who approached
Mendaki for help have had their entire education fees sponsored.
The full amount comes close to $25,000.
All their school fees have been taken care of, and unlike me their
families' incomes are below $2,000 but well above $1,000.
How can I swallow that? Well, I decided to take a loan from NUS.
But taking the loan is not solving the root cause of my problem. It
is just piling up the debts with the bank when I graduate.
Why do I deserve to be put in this situation when other students
can receive financial aid so easily?
The few bursaries that I had applied for in NUS did not get any
attention. The Registar's office kept telling me the results would
only be known at a 'certain date', and when I called to ask, it
pushed the date further back.
As an eye opener to those who are unaware of it, the bursaries are
only $1,500 a year and they don't cover me for each semester. So
that is really not much of a help.
Worse still, the bursaries are not given throughout the course of
study but only once. What's the point then?
How is this situation affecting me? Simple. It is literally
impossible for me to concentrate on my studies when deep down
inside, I feel I am being deprived of any help at all.
I and my family are making sacrifices to make ends meet.
NUS is among the top 20 universities in the world. But there is
nothing to brag about when you can't even help your own students
realise their dreams.
Girish s/o Ahsin Thannabal
