150 children who face academic challenges, will benefit from 8,000 hours of tuition delivered by OCBC staff volunteers and professional tutors.

(From left) Sufiyan Shah and Lim Zhi Xuan Charlene, beneficiaries from The Hut; Mr Goh Pei Ming, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development; Mr Sunny Quek, Head of Global Consumer Financial Services; and Ms Nancy Quah, Chairperson The Hut.

Singapore, 21 September 2025 – OCBC has announced a five-year commitment of S$500,000 to support a tuition programme in partnership with The Hut, a local charitable children and youth centre dedicated to nurturing children from low-income families. Over the next five years, the programme will deliver a total of 8,000 hours of tutoring, provided by both professional tutors and OCBC staff volunteers to help 150 children. The programme is fully funded through OCBC staff fundraising efforts. The programme will benefit students living in the Marine Parade estate who are under-performing in school and lack access to supplementary academic support. The 150 children will be referred by organisations such as the Ministry of Social and Family Development, their kindergartens, or their primary schools. The children participating in this programme come from low-income families, where parents or caregivers work long hours and are unable to provide consistent academic guidance. Given the families’ financial situations, additional tuition is largely inaccessible and places them at a distinct disadvantage. Through this partnership, OCBC hopes to bridge the gap, empowering them to improve their academic performance and unlock their full potential. At today’s launch event at OCBC Square, Singapore Sports Hub, Mr Goh Pei Ming, Member of Parliament representing Marine Parade – Braddell Heights GRC, and Mr Sunny Quek, Head of Global Consumer Financial Services, OCBC announced the start of this partnership.

Selection of beneficiaries
There are two groups of children who will benefit from the programme: For the children in Kindergarten One to Primary One, given the less demanding academic requirements, OCBC staff volunteers are able to teach them literacy and numeracy with a focus on building strong foundations. For the children in Primary Two to Primary Six, with the tougher education curriculum, academic support and guidance will be provided by professional tutors. Once the children are enrolled, they will receive continued tutoring support until their graduation from the programme.

Beneficiaries in Kindergarten One to Primary One: Emphasis on literacy and numeracy through dedicated OCBC staff volunteers The Hut will pair the children, currently in Kindergarten One to Primary One with OCBC staff volunteers for weekly tutoring sessions. These sessions focus on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

To better cater to the children’s needs, the class sizes are kept small, with a maximum of nine students, allowing tutors to better adjust the pace of learning to suit each child within a smaller group size.

Beneficiaries in Primary Two to Primary Six: Professional tutoring support
The funds are channelled to hiring of professional tutors who will conduct structured classes for the children currently in Primary Two to Primary Six.

The classes are aligned with the Ministry of Education syllabus and serve as enrichment to supplement children’s school learning, helping to level the playing field with peers from more advantaged backgrounds.

As part of their commitment, OCBC staff volunteers will dedicate one year to volunteering, which includes attending compulsory training courses before they start to conduct tuition classes for children throughout the academic calendar. Their consistent presence helps build trust and foster deeper connections with each child. Through regular sessions, volunteers can also tailor a more personalised and effective teaching approach.

Event launch to commemorate 5th anniversary
To announce the continued partnership, a “Sports Day”- themed family event was held at OCBC Square, Singapore Sports Hub. This year also marks The Hut’s 5th anniversary, adding special significance to the occasion. A total of 120 children and their families from The Hut came together for a morning filled with games, learning, and meaningful connections. Four game stations — designed to engage children in fun and educational activities were set up around the venue. These sports day concept has consistently been popular among children and their families, offering them a meaningful opportunity to spend time together, bond, and learn through play.

Mr Sunny Quek, Head of Global Consumer Financial Services, OCBC, 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.”

Representative from The Hut, Ms Nancy Quah, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, said: “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.”

OCBC staff volunteers from OCBC’s Global Consumer Financial Services division have been volunteering at The Hut since 2020. Past volunteering efforts centred mainly around tuition support and befriending. Collectively, close to 150 OCBC staff volunteers have contributed more than 2,000 volunteering hours.