OCBC has pledged S$500,000 over five years to fund a tuition programme for children from low-income families in Singapore. The initiative is a collaboration with The Hut, a local charity focused on supporting children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The programme will provide 8,000 hours of tutoring to 150 students living in the Marine Parade estate. Tutoring will be delivered by both professional tutors and OCBC staff volunteers. Funding comes entirely from OCBC staff fundraising activities.
Children eligible for the programme are referred by organisations such as the Ministry of Social and Family Development, their kindergartens, or primary schools. These children often come from families where parents work long hours and cannot offer consistent academic guidance at home, making extra tuition financially out of reach.
At an event held at OCBC Square, Singapore Sports Hub, Goh Pei Ming, Member of Parliament representing Marine Parade – Braddell Heights GRC, and Sunny Quek, Head of Global Consumer Financial Services at OCBC, announced the launch of the partnership.
The tuition support is divided into two groups. Children in Kindergarten One to Primary One will receive weekly sessions focused on literacy and numeracy skills led by OCBC staff volunteers. Classes are kept small with up to nine students per group to allow more personalised instruction.
For those in Primary Two to Primary Six, professional tutors will conduct structured classes aligned with the Ministry of Education syllabus. This aims to supplement school learning and help close achievement gaps between these students and their peers from more advantaged backgrounds.
OCBC staff volunteers are expected to commit one year to volunteering after attending mandatory training courses before leading tuition sessions throughout the academic calendar. Their ongoing involvement helps build trust with students and allows them to tailor teaching approaches based on individual needs.
To mark both the launch of this renewed partnership and The Hut’s fifth anniversary, a sports day-themed family event was organised at OCBC Square. About 120 children and their families participated in games designed for fun as well as educational value.
Sunny Quek said: “We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background. Through the support of staff from the bank’s consumer banking business, we hope to empower these young minds not just academically, but emotionally and socially — helping them build confidence and resilience for the future. This partnership with The Hut reflects our commitment to nurturing the next generation with heart and purpose. By combining the dedication of our staff volunteers with professional support, we hope to create a nurturing environment where children can thrive.”
Nancy Quah, Chairperson of The Hut’s Board of Directors added: “We are deeply grateful to OCBC for their steadfast support over the years and for renewing this meaningful partnership for another five years. When partners like OCBC come alongside us with a shared belief in our vision and mission, it magnifies the impact we can make together. Their commitment enables children from lower resourced backgrounds to access academic support, opening doors to opportunities that will empower them to grow, thrive, and pursue their dreams.”
Since 2020 nearly 150 OCBC employees have volunteered at The Hut contributing over 2,000 hours primarily focused on tuition assistance.