Former banker Tan Cher Ling and her husband Tan Yong Soon wanted to do something for needy pupils.
To their delight, the couple, who are both 64, learnt in late 2012 that Westwood Primary School was willing to work with them to help lower-income pupils read better, among other activities.
Having roped in their friends, the Tans and four other volunteers crafted lesson plans and, along the way, roped in more volunteers from Society for Wings.
They also partnered Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) to get its secondary school boys to work with the younger pupils every week.
The Young Student Programme, now in its seventh year, has benefited about 150 Westwood Primary pupils. It has also been extended to pupils from First Toa Payoh Primary and Townsville Primary schools since last year.
Other primary and secondary schools have adopted similar initiatives in recent years, through career exposure schemes or finding mentors from external organisations or other schools.
Last year, the Education Ministry announced the formation of the UPLIFT Taskforce to take a closer look at the issues faced by under-performing students from disadvantaged families, and to devise practical solutions.
Around 60 to 70 HCI students now join the programme each year, up from 30 in its first year.
An HCI spokesman said the programme has made a long-term impact on its students, with a number of them returning to help organise activities.
Mrs Tan and her husband, Professor Tan – a former civil servant who is now at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy – said they are glad the programme has grown.
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Source: The Straits Times, 15 October 2019