More than 500 students in the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency received bursary awards on Sunday.

These annual awards provide recognition to needy and meritorious students living in the GRC. A total of $119,550 was given out to 517 recipients ranging from kindergarten to university and ITE students at the presentation ceremony. Bursaries range from $100 to $400.

Dr Ng Eng Hen, grassroots adviser and MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, congratulated the award recipients and promised that needy families in the GRC will be helped. "If you know of any family with financial difficulties, you tell us, we promise that your children's education will not suffer," said Dr Ng, who is also Defence Minister.

He also appealed to award recipients and those from stable families to help children whose families are facing difficult circumstances.

In the last five years, Bishan-Toa Payoh Citizens' Consultative Committees have given out close to $1 million in bursaries. There are also other programmes like the GRC Community Scholarship programme to help needy students.