After completing her O-level exams as a private candidate, national badminton player Yeo Jia Min stopped school at 17 so she could pursue sport full time and benefit from a full Sport Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship) stipend.
At the time, juggling both sport and studies qualified her for only half of the allowance.
While the decision paid off as she became a junior world No. 1 at 18, went on to win titles on the Badminton World Tour and compete in two Olympics, further education "has always been at the back of my head".
This is why Yeo is buoyed by the recent announcement by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong at a post-National Day Rally engagement session.
On Aug 21, Mr Tong revealed details of the spex Education Undergraduate Scholarship Programme, which is part of a slew of initiatives to make sport a viable and attractive career path for Singaporeans.
National athletes will be able to apply for the programme from Sept 1 with two options available - the dual-career path for athletes pursuing their studies while training and competing, and the new-career track for those who choose to study after retiring from competitive sport.
All six autonomous universities in Singapore will also support aptitude-based admissions and schedule flexibility to better accommodate training and competitions, while spexScholars will enjoy monthly top-ups to their CPF accounts from April 2025.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin August 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin August 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
BullsAndBears STI posts 0.6% increase as S'pore stocks continue upward march
Rise in S'pore key exports boosts investor sentiment Gainers beat losers 355 to 205, on turnover worth $1.5 billion DFI Retail Group top gainer on STI, rising 3.9 per cent
A vibrant, liquid stock market vital for S'pore: SGX chairman
'Evident' that more work is needed to bolster this pillar of the financial ecosystem, he says
A new era for the underperforming Singapore bourse?
Is the underperforming Singapore bourse finally about to get a \"big bang\" solution which could inject more liquidity and life into it? Judging by the latest utterances of Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat, Singapore Exchange (SGX) chairman Koh Boon Hwee and SGX chief executive Loh Boon Chye, there is a better-than-even chance that the problems afflicting the local bourse are getting a serious look from the powers that be.
Hong Kong courts ultra-rich Mid-East families in wealth push
Move comes as foreign investors leave and Beijing steps up links with oil-rich region
S'pore waters 60 compensation claims lodged by those affected by June incident
Global compensation scheme expects most claims to be made within next few months
S'pore crypto activity hots up with tie-ups in areas of payment, stablecoin
The cryptocurrency scene in Singapore has been set abuzz this week with key events in town and a series of tie-ups, including in areas of payment, stablecoin and combating crypto crime.
DBS to offer institutional, accredited investors more crypto investment options
Institutional investors and accredited wealth clients will have more options when it comes to digital asset investments from the fourth quarter, DBS Bank said.
Manulife sees chance to offer solutions for seniors' needs
Insurer eyes more comprehensive policies to cater to rapidly ageing population in S'pore
Will Fed get it right with size of expected rate cut?
Senior Business Correspondent The long-anticipated interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve is almost upon us, and yet there is a sense of unease over whether the world's most influential central bank will get it right.
Ukraine war faces a major turning point
Risk of escalation rising as decision looms on whether the US will lift restrictions on use of long-range missiles by Ukraine against Russia.