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An increasing number of polytechnic students in Singapore are working part-time while pursuing full-time studies, often to support their families financially. While there is no official data on the total number of such students, social service agency Allkin Singapore reported a more than threefold increase in post-secondary students aged 17 and above who are working while studying — from five in 2024 to 17 in 2025, based on applications for its Allkin ElevatED! study grant. This suggests a growing trend of students taking on financial responsibilities. NYP Diploma in Food and Beverage Business alumna Amillie Chan worked up to five hours on weekdays and 12 hours on weekends at Guzman y Gomez while studying full-time. Second-year business student from TP Lucas Lim works part-time at FairPrice to ease the burden on his 63-year-old father, a bus captain and sole breadwinner. SP Diploma in Civil Engineering student Yap Jie Er started working at Takagi Ramen for pocket money, but after her father passed away, she began supporting herself so her mother could focus on her three younger siblings. Third-year Diploma in Immersive Media student from NP Jennifer Lau works once a week at a Lego store. She wishes she could work more but must balance studies and visiting her father in a nursing home. The Ministry of Education (MOE) noted that in academic year 2023, over 70% of ITE students and around 50% of polytechnic students received government bursaries such as the Higher Education Community Bursary and Higher Education Bursary, which support students from lower- to middle-income households. These bursaries, along with loans and aid from educational institutions, foundations, community groups, and other organisations, are part of a wide range of financial assistance schemes available to help Singaporean students in need.

[The Straits Times]