ESM Goh launches Parents in Education Fund

By Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia, 30 Jul 2012

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong will raise at least S$450,000 over the next three years for a new Parents in Education Fund.

The Fund is a donation from Mr Goh to enhance the partnership between schools and parents in 15 primary schools.

Some six years ago, Mr Goh rallied his golfer friends to play in a game he organised himself.

"I decided, my friends who have the luxury to play this game, must be punished. So I gathered some of them (and) said let's have an annual invitational golf. And to participate in my annual invitational golf, each one of them has to pay S$5,000, just trying to hit that ball into a small hole," said Mr Goh. 

When Mr Goh approached the Education Ministry, it suggested using the money to enhance the partnership between schools and parents.

On Monday afternoon, Mr Goh launched the Parents in Education Fund with an initial amount of S$150,000.

Fifteen primary schools will receive S$10,000 a year from 2012 to 2014.

The schools can use the funds to develop new ways, such as seminars or workshops, to better reach out to and engage parents.

MacPherson Primary School hopes to use the money to organise more parent-child bonding activities in addition to the workshops it already has.

The schools will also be using the funds to help parents support their children's learning at home.