More families to qualify for CDAC support from 2027 as income eligibility thresholds rise

It would have recorded a deficit of about $2.1 million in 2025, but received a one-off SG60 funding of $6 million from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

“We will therefore need to manage our finances carefully in the years ahead. As we expand our programmes and reach more beneficiaries, these financial pressures are likely to grow,” Ong said.

CDAC is actively seeking new sources of funding, including reaching out to philanthropic funders such as the Wee Foundation, he added.

“Should the need arise, we will also review whether contributions can be adjusted within a reasonable range,” he said. “This may include inviting higher-income contributors to give a few dollars more each month, in support of the wider Chinese community.”

Speaking to the media after the AGM, the minister said if raising contributions is something that must be done, an announcement will be made in due course.

Currently, Singapore citizens and permanent residents from the Chinese community contribute 50 cents to $3 monthly to CDAC, depending on their salaries. The amount is deducted from their pay.

Looking ahead, CDAC will also focus on making support more coordinated and effective through case management and closer integration across services, said Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport Sun Xueling, who is a CDAC board member.

“When challenges are multi-dimensional, it is important that support not be fragmented because families may end up having to navigate different schemes when they are already time and resource-constrained,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure the support is organised around the family, the children, and that it all works together as a whole.”

Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming, who is a new CDAC board member, said the council’s help goes beyond academics today.

“There’s a lot of emphasis on character development, encouraging our children to pursue their dreams… fostering family interactions, and also building that sense of community spirit in our children.”

MP David Hoe, who is a new board member and a former beneficiary of CDAC’s tuition programme, noted that the group also creates opportunities for students to discover their interests beyond what they learn in school.

“All these opportunities are important because in broadening our definition of success, we must be able to help every child discover their interest, and with time, practice and the volunteers’ effort, it will grow to become their strength,” said the former teacher.

Secondary 1 student Skye Sim from Yusof Ishak Secondary School has been attending tuition classes and interest-based programmes like coding, drones and art at CDAC since he was in Primary 4.

The aspiring civil engineer told The Straits Times: “The classes have built up my confidence and helped me learn new skills, especially in technology, which are very important for improving my future job prospects.”