A GROUP of 30 old boys from St Joseph's Institution (SJI) have come together to offer scholarships to boys from poor families who will be joining the school at Secondary 1 next year.

Thirty scholarships will be available for boys with sterling academic results, leadership qualities, talent and character.

This year, the school admitted 36 scholarship holders, funding the scholarships from its endowment fund.

To keep the scholarship scheme going, a group of old boys started raising funds two months ago.

They have so far amassed $300,000 and have set a target of $2 million to be reached by the time SJI marks its 160th anniversary in 2012.

Mr Danny Yong, from the class of 1988, said: 'SJI education goes beyond the academics.

'During my secondary school years there, I was exposed to a diverse group of people. It taught me unity, regardless of social standing or academic ability.'

SJI is inviting boys from low-income families who have scored 258 or more in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) to apply for the scholarships.

The PSLE results were released last Thursday.

More information is available at the school's website www.sji.moe.edu.sg

JANE NG

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 25 Nov, 2008.