Singapore Airlines awards scholarships

MANADO: Singapore Airlines has awarded scholarships to 70 students with potential in North Sulawesi starting this 2005/2006 school year until 2008.

The recipients of the scholarships -- provided through the Singapore Airlines for Education (SIAP) program -- were selected by a team from 100 students registered to receive the scholarship.

"Economic hardship due to increased world oil prices means that many students here cannot afford to continue with their education," the company's assistant manager for public affairs, Supramaniam, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

He said the company had previously awarded scholarships to students in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Surakarta, but had then added Manado as the main city in eastern Indonesia.

Since it was first launched in 2001, SIAP has provided scholarships -- which cover education costs and textbooks for a year and can be extended based on the students' academic achievements -- for 2,415 students. -- JP