A total of $400,000 will go to 3,400 students who study in schools in the Southwest district, twice that awarded last year.

A portion of that - $60,000 - will be for transport bursaries for 500 students, provided by ExxonMobil and matched by SE CDC. Each student will get an annual bursary of $120.

At a ceremony to give out the transport bursaries on Wednesday, Mayor of South West District Amy Khor told an audience of some 350 students, parents and teachers: 'Even while the global economy is suffering from one of the most severe downturns in decades, the importance of education to our youths can never be under-estimated.

'We hope that this sum of money will inspire more of you to study hard and excel in life.'

More than 1,380 students from needy families have since been helped with $210,000 since the transport bursary was started in 2003.

The CDC and four organisations also launched a $60,000 fund in January to help students in the Institute of Technical Education with their school expenses.

The Ministry of Education announced a doubling of its budget last week to help needy students, with measures including an increase in bursaries and a grant to schools.