18 July 2006, The Straits Times

40 members come up with $790,000 to fund scholarships
The international school to be set up by St Joseph's Institution (SJI) already has a council to guide its development, ahead of a final nod from the Ministry of Education (MOE) to launch the school.

More than 40 members of what has been called the Leadership Council have stumped up over $790,000 from their own pockets to fund scholarships for needy students. The target is to raise $1 million.

Heading the council is A*Star chairman Philip Yeo. The council's patrons - all SJI old boys - are Foreign Minister George Yeo, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and National Research Foundation chairman Tony Tan.

Speaking at the launch of the council at SJI in Malcolm Road yesterday, Mr Philip Yeo said he was encouraged by the response when he invited old boys to join the council.

"Many of you have responded positively to my invitation because, like me, you have gained much from your days at SJI and are ready to do your part for our alma mater," he said to the 60 guests.

For a start, the money collected will go to between 20 and 25 local SJI students to help cover school fees, which are likely to be about $1,200 a month. Eventually, the council hopes, 50 students will get these scholarships.

The school is also working with companies within Asean to fund scholarships for its foreign students.

Said SJI's deputy principal, Brother Michael Broughton: "Many of our old boys came from humble backgrounds and many needed scholarships to further their studies. So paramount on their minds is: Will boys of similar circumstances now be given this chance?"

Mr George Yeo said yesterday that SJI International's principal handicap would be financial, and called on the Economic Development Board to offer incentives to the school the way it does for other private schools - which receive assistance in looking for school buildings and facilitation with relevant agencies, among other things.

The former head of United World College (Singapore) Mr Andrew Bennett, 57, was also announced as SJI International's first principal. Said Brother Michael of Mr Bennett: "I respect him for his expertise and admire him for his personal value system. He is a man of integrity and values."

If given approval by MOE, SJI International will open next year with 150 students in Secondary 1 and 2, and build up its enrolment to 1,000 over the next few years.

Its students will sit for the International General Certificate for Secondary Education examinations - similar to the O levels - at age 16, and then move on to a two-year course culminating in the International Baccalaureate diploma.

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