PENAMPANG: Kinsabina Group CEO Datuk Francis Goh has started an education fund to help students in the district who come from low income families.
The ‘Datuk Francis Goh Education Aid’ was launched at Wisma Kinsabina here yesterday and the first recipients were the Parents Teachers Association of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin and SRJK (C) Yue Min.
Francis said he understood the burden that parents, especially those in the low and medium income bracket, bear when the school year started.
“Each school-going child needs at least RM600 for registration at the beginning of the school year. I know what these parents are going through because I come from a family whose parents had to struggle to bring us up.
“Therefore I decided to set up this education aid so I can help those who are in need. Today we kicked off the aid by presenting RM100,000 each to the PTAs of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin and SRJK Yue Min.
“I pledge that the aid will continue for three years from this year and maybe next year we can include another school,” he said when met after the official launch of the ‘Casablanca Residence’ by property developer Yat Chung Development (M) Sdn. Bhd, a subsidiary of the Kinsabina Group of Companies.
During the ceremony, Francis and Kinsabina Group COO Datuk Gerald Goh presented mock cheques to the PTA representatives of both schools.
According to Francis, the PTAs and school board will be responsible to identify who are eligible to receive the aid.
“They will be informing the parents of their students about the aid and will request the parents to apply for the aid. Those who qualify will receive between RM300 to RM500 each,” he said adding that he expected to be able to ease the burden of at least 200 parents from each school.
“This is also part of our giving back to the community who has been very supportive of us,” Francis said.