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Singapore Indian Education Trust

The Singapore Indian Education Trust (SIET) is an Indian community trust fund supporting the education of local Indians, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It was set up on 31 December 1967 with trade unionist Govindasamy Kandasamy as one of its key founders.

History
The Singapore Indian Education Trust was established in the midst of tumultuous economic change amongst the local Indians, brought on by the separation of Singapore from Malaya, and the imminent withdrawal of British forces on whom the Indian community heavily depended for employment. Realising the importance of education for the Indian community's future success, activist Govindasamy Kandasamy gathered 12 volunteers to assist in setting up a scholarship fund. The inaugural meeting at the Singapore Indian Association on 30 August 1966 included K. R. Chandra, later Permanent Secretary, and M. Bala Subramanion, Director of Postal Services and T. Selvaganapathy. It was initially known as the Indian Scholarship Trust Fund with Kandasamy becoming its first chairman.

The trust was registered on 31 December 1967 with a total of S$3,297.10 in its funds. Its first awards were given in April 1972. More than 20 endowments have contributed to the fund including a S$50,000 donation made by the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, the first by a temple to the Indian trust.

Awards
The trust provides bursaries and interest free loans for studies up to tertiary level. Special study awards are also available, mainly for tertiary education in key universities.



Author
Bonny Tan



References
Zuzanita Zakaria. (1999, January 15). Fund: to help needy pupils. The Straits Times, Home, p. 59

Singapore Indian Education Trust. (n.d.) Background. Retrieved July 27, 2003, from siet-trust.org.sg/aboutus_background.html


Further Readings
Daniel, R. O. (2002). Singapore Indian Education Trust: The first thirty years. Singapore: Singapore Indian Education Trust.
(Call no.: R SING 371.22095957 SIN) 

The information in this article is valid as at 2003 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Events>>National Campaigns
Politics and Government>>Education
Education--Singapore
Government aid to education--Singapore
Education>>Higher education>>Student aids and scholarships



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