Singapore - It is part of the community project by the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See monastery to reach out to the public to serve parents and children of all races and religions.

Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Mayor of Ang Mo Kio-Cheng San Community Development Council opened the TLC Student Care Centre on Wednesday.

Costing some $250,000, it began operations in April and can take in up to 90 children aged seven to 14.

The centre believes in nurturing children in the areas of individual character development, mental attitude and ethical conduct through innovative programmes, including meditation technique to boost concentration power.

There are also plans to set up another centre in the western p! art of Singapore next year.

For 15 minutes each day, 10 year-old Mohan Raviteja and his friends have to sit very still and breathe exactly in the way they are told. They are not being punished, but are learning to do light meditation- part of the daily programme at the Tender Loving Care Student Care Centre.

The new centre in Ang Mo Kio is a new venture for Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Singapore's largest Buddhist temple. Mohan, whose family is Hindu, has been going to the centre for one month. He said the meditation has been useful: "If I'm stressed, it will help me feel calm."

It was easy to see why. To the strains of soothing music and a teacher's gentle narration, a bunch of fidgety primary pupils were transformed into calm figures as they sat cross-legged on rectangular blue cushions. Four full-time teachers at the centre monitor the children's homework and provide moral-education lessons. Vegetarian food is served at lunch and tea break. The centre now has 20 pupils, most of whom live in Ang Mo Kio.

Set up in April, it is largely funded by Ang Mo Kio - Cheng San Community Development Council (CDC). Parents pay $300 a month a child, or less if they get subsidies from the Ministry of Community Development and Sports. Mayor of Ang Mo Kio - Cheng San CDC Zainul Abidin Rasheed, who opened the centre officially on Wednesday said: "This is a commendable project because of its multi-racial and multi-religious approach."