A NEW government policy placing a higher number of pupils from low-income families into government boarding schools will not be at the expense of high-achievers, said Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

Maszlee said the policy will not impact on high achievers who failed to secure a place in boarding schools as these pupils can succeed in any schooling environment.

“From my experience, when you look at these top pupils, even in a kampung school, they will excel, even in a normal school they will excel,” he said.

Boarding schools have become a place for the elite to send their children to, denying those from poorer backgrounds access to quality education, he said.

“The policy will bring back the original purpose of setting up the boarding schools as they were meant for the poor, from rural areas and those from low-income families,” said the Simpang Renggam MP. 

“This time, we want to assist the rakyat and help the low-income group and give their children an opportunity to have access to good education in boarding schools.”

Mazlee said this after visiting SK Precint 14 in Putrajaya in conjunction with the first day of school.

The new policy would help raise families out of the cycle of poverty, he said.

“When their children get an opportunity to go to a full boarding school, it gives them a chance to raise the family’s fortune once they become successful.”

For the 2019 school year, the ministry said 9,350 pupils have been placed in full boarding schools.

Out of that number, 52.28% or 4,888 are from the B40 group, which is an increase of by 15.34% from the 2018 intake. – January 2, 2019.