NTUC Care assistance helps NTU student pursue a better future

For Tan Jin Long, owning a laptop was once beyond his family’s means.

He could not afford one while studying in junior college.

When he later entered Nanyang Technological University, an ageing entry-level laptop that he was given struggled to keep up with the demands of his materials engineering course.

The device could not properly run software and computing tools such as SolidWorks and Jupyter, which he needed for his studies.

A $600 NTUC Care (Education Awards) he received in 2025 allowed him to upgrade the laptop and keep up with his coursework.

“Last year, I used the award to upgrade my old laptop as it could not run any of the engineering software I needed,” said the third-year student.

The 23-year-old received another $600 education award in 2026.

Pursuing a stable career

Jin Long comes from a family of three. His father works as a taxi driver and is a member of the National Taxi Association, while his mother provides hair and nail services at a salon in Lucky Plaza.

He chose to study materials engineering because of the range of career opportunities the discipline could offer.

“I was drawn to materials engineering as it would allow me to enter different engineering fields and give me the opportunity to build a stable career,” he said.

However, financial pressures have been a constant concern throughout his studies.

These difficulties became especially acute during the COVID-19 circuit breaker, when both his parents were unable to work.

With no income coming in, the family had to rely on government assistance to meet its needs.

Even outside that period, Jin Long has watched his parents work long hours, six to seven days a week.

Their sacrifices have become a source of motivation for him.

“Their hard work inspires me to work hard in my studies. I hope that one day, I can give my parents the better life they deserve,” he said.

Tan Jin Long (left) and his father at the NTUC Care (Education Awards) ceremony in 2025.

Support through his father’s union membership

Jin Long’s father first learnt about the education award through his union representative.

The support has gone beyond helping Jin Long pay for an essential study tool.

To him, it is also a reminder that his family is not facing its difficulties alone.

“This award means more than just money to my family. It showed us that unions and NTUC still care about lower-income families like ours,” he said.

Through his father’s union membership, the household has also received additional assistance over the years.

His father received a total of $320 in e-vouchers from 2022 to 2024, as well as $150 through the NTUC Care (Special Assistance) each year from 2022 to 2026.

He also received $120 in NTUC Care (U Stretch) vouchers in both 2025 and 2026.

Including Jin Long’s two education awards, the family received more than $2,500 in support between 2022 and 2026.

The support eased the strain on the household as Jin Long worked towards his degree.

Hoping to give back

After graduation, Jin Long hopes to build a long-term career in the advanced packaging segment of the semiconductor industry.

Advanced packaging brings semiconductor components together to improve the performance and capabilities of electronic devices. The field would allow him to apply what he has learnt in materials engineering while pursuing the stability he wants for himself and his family.

His ambitions, however, extend beyond securing a career.

Having experienced how community and union support can help a family through difficult periods, Jin Long hopes to support others when he is in a position to do so.

“I hope to give back to the community, just as the community has given to me,” he said.

To help those in need, such as Jin Long and his family, you can donate to the NTUC-U Care Fund.