THE government intends to introduce a new type of school for children from the poorest groups to ensure they do not lack education.  

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the concept for this new type of school will be akin to a secondary boarding school. 

“So, we will have a school that provides space for children from poor families, especially the poorest, and whose (academic) results are not satisfactory. We will give them the opportunity to study,” he said when speaking at the “Temu Anwar Bicara Pendidikan Madani” programme at the Penang Matriculation College today. 

He emphasised that everyone should have equal access to educational opportunities. 

He said there was currently a gap between urban schools and rural schools like those in Manik Urai, Kelantan and Kapit, Sarawak. 

While admitting that education was one way to escape the clutches of poverty, Anwar said education could increase social mobility which, according to him, was “migration” for the poor. 

As such, he intends to make changes to the education sector. 

“For this to succeed, we must all fully cooperate… from students to teachers and the students must also be committed to excel in their studies,” he said. 

Anwar said youngsters must master learning and revive interest in reading, which is currently waning among students. 

In line with that, he said the Madani Budget had allocated the biggest expenditure for the education sector because he believed a country could be more advanced if its people excelled in education. – Bernama, August 5, 2023.