Support Lessens Students' Burdens
By Shafiyi Azahari

Bandar Seri Begawan - Some 74 students yesterday received financial aid from the Community Development Department, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The contribution are to pay for their expenses for the new school year.

The donation totalling $6,400 which came from the department's School Children's Sponsorship Relief Fund, was handed over by its director, Datin Adina Othman. The recipients who are in secondary level received a sum of $150 each while those in primary level received $100 each.

At the function, the students were represented by their parents and guardians, who received sets of school stationeries, from an anonymous donor.

Mohd Zahari Adis, a Community Development Department officer said that among the requirements for students to be eligible to receive the once-a-year financial aid was that they must be citizens or permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam. He said the department would then assess their applications for the assistance.

Mohd Zahari said, `Another criteria that would be considered is if the parent is unemployed, or for instance the applicant has 10 children with a monthly income of only $1000.

"We also check if the head of the family can afford to send their offspring to school," he added.

Meanwhile, the department will be placing collection boxes at supermarkets starting in February 2007 to make it easier for the public who wish to donate to the School Children's Sponsorship Relief Fund.

He said that in the past the fund has received an encouraging response from the public and much of the money donated came from these collection boxes. Donations to the fund can also be made at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports or through telephone numbers 2380664/2380667.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with