By Teo Wan Gek

About 200 incoming students will benefit from a $1 million help scheme offered by private education provider TMC Educational Group.

The bond-free scholarship, worth $5,000 each, will be offered to students with diplomas or ITE certificates and pursuing a degree programme.

This is the first time TMC has launched a scholarship of this scale.

It is in response to the Government's plan to help professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) upgrade themselves during this economic slump.

Dr Chin Kon Yuen, chief executive officer of TMC, said: 'This is to complement the Government's efforts to encourage more people to upgrade their qualifications and make themselves more employable.'

The scholarship will cover a third of the course fees.

Dr Chin said: 'We note that PMETs who have diplomas or ITE qualifications will generally benefit the most through an upgrading of educational qualification, and also due to the fact that the courses we offer are more suitable for them.'

If more than 200 students apply for the scholarship, TMC may increase the amount of help, he added.

Other private education providers are also helping their students.

Kaplan is allowing for more flexibility in payment of fees.

Mr Alvin Teo, deputy marketing director of Kaplan, said: 'Some of our course fees cost

between $4,000 and $6,000 per term of three months, but we have allowed students to break it up into smaller amounts per month.'

Informatics Education said it offers scholarships and bursaries.

Ms Sharon Koh, an assistant manager of public relations and marketing, said: 'It seems prudent, especially in a downturn, to upgrade one's skills to better compete in the job market, and take advantage of the eventual upturn.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.